i! 


ILLIAM   AUGUSTUS    MUHLENBERG,  D.D. 


THE  LIFE  AND  WORK 


OF 


WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG 


BY 

ANNE  AYKES 

ti 


VIR   ANTiqUA    FIDE  ET   VIRTUTE 


NEW  YORK 

HARPER  &  BROTHERS,  FRANKLIN  SQUARE 

1880 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1880,  by 

HARPER    &    BROTHERS, 
In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,   at  Washington. 


STEREOTYPED  BY 

St.  Johnland  Stereotype  Foundry,  Suffolk  Co.,  N.   Y. 


PEEFAOE. 


A  personal  acquaintance  with  Dr.  Muhlenberg,  extending 
over  more  than  thirty  years,  eighteen  of  which  were  spent 
under  the  same  roof  with  him,  and  in  an  intercourse  as 
close  as  that  of  a  daughter  with  a  revered  father,  will 
best  account  to  the  reader  for  the  seeming  presumption 
of  the  hand  whereby  the  following  memorials  of  his  life 
and  work  have  been  gathered  together. 

The  value  and  acceptability  of  the  volume  is  to  be  found 
in  the  eminence  of  him  whom  it  portrays,  and  in  that  fidel- 
ity and  minuteness  of  touch  in  the  portraiture  naturally 
resulting,  where  the  living  subject  has  been  intimately  seen 
and  studied  for  half  a  lifetime.  This  last  was  chiefly  re- 
lied on  in  venturing  upon  so  high  a  task;  with  the  added 
assurance  of  his  own  words :  "  You  know  more  of  my  heart 
and  mind  on  all  points,  than  any  other  person  living." 

The  several  sources  from  which  the  greater  part  of  the 
work  is  drawn,  become  sufficiently  apparent  in  the  read- 
ing, but  a  little  further  explanation,  in  this  regard,  remains 
to  be  made.  During  a  brief  holiday  in  Europe,  with  Dr. 
Muhlenberg,  in  the  summer  of  1872,  the  opportunity  was 
seized,  as  he  reclined  in  the  intervals  of  travelling,  to  take 
down  many  interesting  particulars  of  those  parts  of  his 
life  with  which  I  was  not  personally  familiar,  and  more 
especially  to  obtain,  in  his  own  words,  certain  statements 
of  principles,  and  opinions  on  points  of  importance,  essen- 
tial to  the  authenticity  and  completeness  of  what  I  had 
taken  in  hand  to  do.  Such  auto-biographical  information, 
it  should  be  named,  was  only  given  at  my  earnest  solicitation. 


4  PREFACE. 

For  valuable  data  concerning  his  educational  labors,  I 
am  greatly  indebted  to  the  Eev.  Dr.  Libertus  Van  Bok- 
kelen,  a  former  pupil  and  associate,  who  generously  placed 
at  my  disposal,  a  large  quantity  of  material,  including  per- 
sonal letters  and  manuscripts. 

But  beyond  all  other  assistance  afforded  me  has  been 
that  derived  from  Dr.  Muhlenberg's  own  private  papers, 
journals,  and  letters.  These  were  given  to  my  sole  and 
unreserved  perusal,  accompanied  by  directions  that,  within 
a  certain  period,  all  were  to  be  destroyed.  A  modification 
of  this  command  was  afterwards  secured  as  to  sermons 
and  other  addresses.  There  was  no  permission  to  publish 
either  journals  or  letters,  but  the  contrary.  Wherein  this 
understood  restriction  has  been  encroached  upon,  the  spirit 
of  my  friend  and  father  will  pardon  the  deviation,  for  the 
sake  of  the  motive  prompting  it. 

The  book  has  been  written  amid  the  care  and  pressure 
of  much  other  responsible  work.  More  leisure  and  free- 
dom for  the  purpose  might  have  enriched  its  pages,  and 
possibly  have  excluded  some  defects.  It  is  believed,  how- 
ever, that  nothing  of  moment  has  been  omitted,  and  the 
faults  of  an  unpractised  authorship,  it  is  trusted,  will  be 
overlooked  in  the  conscientiousness  of  the  history  and  the 
intrinsic  interest  of  its  subject. 

A.  A. 

St.  Johnland,  L.  I. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER   I. 

ANCESTRY. 

PAGE. 

The  Muhlenberg  Family.— The  Patriarch  Muhlenberg.— General  Muhl- 
enberg's  Last  Sermon. — The  Marriage  of  William  Augustus  Muhlen- 
berg's  Father  and  Mother  in  Connection  with  the  Jay  Treaty. — 
Conrad  Weiser. — Question  as  to  Whom  he  Married I 

CHAPTER   II. 

1796-1811. 

Birth  and  Childhood. — Early  Religious  Sentiment.— Death  of  his  Fa- 
ther.— Preference  for  the  Episcopal  Church  in  his  ninth  Year. — A 
Quaker  School-master. — The  Academy. — Exemplary  Boyhood. — 
Inventive  Faculty. — St.  James's  Church. — Disappointment  at  the 
Consecration. — Innate  Ecclesiastical  ^Estheticism. — Boy  Journals. — 
Grammar  School  of  the  University,  Pa IO 

CHAPTER    III. 
1811-1815. 

College  Life. — A  True  Friend. — Youthful  Sports. — Confirmation. — Re- 
tiring yet  Courageous.— The  Juniors  and  the  Provost. — Studies. — 
Church  Observances. — Philomathean  Society. — College  Classmates. 
— Life-long  Friends. — An  Impenitent  Boy  Friend. — Public  Affairs. 
— Closing  Events  of  War  of  1812. — A  Day  of  Military  Service. — 
The  Treaty  of  Ghent. — Peace  joyfully  Welcomed. — Graduated  with 
Honors.  .  .  , 20 

CHAPTER    IV. 

1815-1820. 

Study  of  Theology. — Interview  with  Bishop  White. — The  Theological 
Seminary  Question.  —  Earnest  Preparation.  —  First  Communion. — 
Self-searching  Questions  at  Close  of  Year. — Reforming  the  Organ 


vi  CONTENTS. 

PAGE. 

Loft. — Office  of  Clerk  abolished. — Removal  to  Arch  St. — A  Prayer 
in  Every  Room. — Founded  a  Church  in  Huntingdon  Co. — Proposed 
Visit  to  Europe  abandoned. — Ordained  Deacon. — Bishop  White's 
Assistant. — Extreme  Diffidence  at  Beginning  of  Ministry. — Bishop 
White's  Meekness. — Anecdotes. — The  Sunday  Schools.  —  Church 
Music. — An  Auxiliary  Bible  Society. — Visiting  among  the  Poor. — 
Ordained  Priest. — Accepts  a  Call  to  St.  James's,  Lancaster. — Letter 
from  Bishop  White 38 


CHAPTER   V. 

1820-1824. 

Religion  and  Learning  in  Lancaster. — Apathy  of  the  People. — Mr.  Muhl- 
enberg's  Activity. — Forms  a  Sunday  School. — Interest  in  Public  Edu- 
cation.— Obtains  Passage  of  Bill  through  Legislature. — Large  School- 
house  erected. — Personal  Devotion  to  this  School. — Improves  the 
Monitorial  System. — Other  efforts  for  Enlightenment  of  the  Town. — 
The  Special  General  Convention,  1821. — Plea  for  Christian  Hymns. 
— Effort  in  another  Direction. — Church  Poetry. — Hymn  Committee 
appointed  at  General  Convention,  1823. — Mr.  Muhlenberg  a  Mem- 
ber.— Faithful  Pastoral  Labors. — Extracts  from  Parish  Notes.  .  .  58 

CHAPTER   VI. 

1824-1826. 

Joy  and  sorrow. — Resoluteness. — An  Occurrence  several  Years  later. 
— The  Roman  Catholic  Preacher.— Sentiments  regarding  Celibacy. 
— His  Journals  and  Prayers. — "I  would  not  live  alway." — History 
of  the  Hymn. — His  Dissatisfaction  with  it. — A  Fable  Apologetic. — 
Power  of  Looking  at  himself  Objectively. — Attempted  Emendation 
of  the  Hymn. — Another  in  1876. — Original  Version  in  full. — Why 
he  wrote  these  several  Versions. — Unexpected  Popularity  of  the 
Piece. — The  Attention  it  drew. — Burdensome  Honors. — A  Contem- 
poraneous Effusion.— Might  have  been  a  Poet. — Byron  and  Moore. 
—Conscious  of  kindred  Power.— A  Poet  of  a  higher  Kind.— Musi- 
cal Gift. — A  rare  double  Endowment. — Education  prospectively 
his  Vocation. — Resigns  Charge  at  Lancaster. — Passage  from  his 
Farewell  Sermon ,68 


CONTENTS*  vii 

CHAPTER  VII. 

1826-1828. 

PAGE' 
Christian  Schools  Essential  to  the  Commonwealth. — Originator  of  their 

Type. — Eventful  Sunday  at  Flushing. — His  Hymns  of  this  date. — 
The  Hymn  Committee. — Association  with  Dr.  H.  U.  Onderdonk. — 
Convention  of  1826. — The  Hymns  passed. — Absence  of  Party  Feel- 
ing.—A  Dinner-Table  Talk.— Taken  at  his  Word.— The  Flushing 
Institute. — Exhilarating  Effect  of  a  New  Project. — Life -Long  Fer- 
tility in  Plans  of  Beneficence.— Searching  the  Ground  of  his  Under- 
taking.— Opposition  of  Family. — His  Mother's  Fears. — A  Portrai- 
ture.—  The  Reward  he  sought. — Visits  Lancaster.  —  Dr.  H.  U. 
Onderdonk  chosen  for  Assistant  Bishop  of  Pennsylvania. — Carries 
the  Tidings  to  the  Bishop  Elect 79 

CHAPTER   VIII. 

1828-1835. 

Flushing  Institute  in  Operation. — Intensity  of  Religious  Conviction. — An 
Apostle  to  Youth. — Characteristic  Incident. — Theory  of  the  School. 
— Its  Government. — Secretary  Forsyth  and  the  Fourth  of  July. — 
Not  Emulation  but  Christian  Endeavor. — System  of  Marks. — An 
Evening  in  the  Institute. — The  Church  Year,*— His  Assistants. — Pri- 
vate Interviews  with  Boys. — Unceasing  Efforts  for  their  Salvation. 
—Little  Prayers  for  Little  Things.— "Tabella  Sacra.  "—The  Rec- 
tor's Rules  for  himself. — The  Little  Charity  Box. — Cold  Water 
Treatment  of  a  Trick. 97 

CHAPTER   IX. 
1835-1839- 

Preparations  for  St.  Paul's  College. — Repute  as  an  Educator. — Reply 
to  Bishop  Doane's  Proposal. — Purchase  of  a  Farm  near  Flushing'. — 
Success  of  the  Institute. — Ten  Thousand  Dollars  of  Debt. — His 
Mother's  Aid. — No  Thought  of  Surrender. — Ultimately  met  his  Ex- 
penses.— Scenery  of  College  Point. — Laying  a  Corner-stone  that  Re- 
ceived no  Super-structure. — Enduring  Work  of  St.  Paul's  College. — 
Why  the  Permanent  College  Edifice  was  not  built. — A  noble  Princi- 
ple of  Action. — Plans  for  a  Sojourn  in  Europe. — His  Brother's  unex- 
pected Death. — Characteristics  of  Dr.  Frederick  A.  Muhlenberg. — 
Grief  and  Tenderness  of  Survivor. — Turns  to  Work  again. — Tem- 
porary Buildings  erected. — St.  Paul's  College  begun. — Principles 
and  Discipline  of  the  Same. — The  Rector's  Increase  of  Care. — 
Divine  Support. — Tenor  of  Daily  Intercourse  with  Students. — Tact 
in  Dealing  with  them. — Skilful  Moral  Probing 117 


viii  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER   X. 

1839-1843. 

PAGE 

Exclusion  of  Emulation  as  an  Incentive. — How  it  worked. — No  Tol- 
erance of  Inferior  Scholarship. — Examination  of  1839. — Instructors 
educated  in  Institution. — The  Faculty. — Dimensions  of  Buildings. — 
Other  Statistics. — Dr.  Muhlenberg's  Proprietorship. — Physical  Cul- 
ture of  Students. — Boating. — A  Summer  Evening  Scene. — Impres- 
siveness  of  the  Place. — Noon-tide  Chapel  Service. — Religious  Efforts 
beyond  the  College. — Chapel  Services  on  the  Great  Festivals. — 
^Esthetic  not  Ritualistic. — Music  and  Song. — The  Wreath-makers' 
Ballad. — Ode  for  the  Ashburton  Dinner. — Unresting  Originating 
Power.  —  Numerous  Educational  Plans.  —  An  Order  of  Christian 
Teachers  for  the  Church.— Cadets'  Hall.— Prose  Compositions. — 
A  Birthday  in  Retirement.  —  Spiritual  Exercises.  —  His  Christian 
Watchfulness 139 

CHAPTER   XL 

1843-1844. 

Fifteen  Years  of  unbroken  Service. — Onerous  Labors. — A  Holiday. — 
Tractarianism. — Its  Impression  on  him. — Notes  from  Journals. — 
Voyage  to  Europe.— Arnold  Buffam. — Sight-seeing. — A  Breakfast  at 
Oriel.— John  Henry  Newman. — Dr.  Pusey.— Ravished  with  Oxford. 
—In  Paris. — The  Wesleyan  Chapel. — The  Saintly  Professor. — Prep- 
arations for  Return. — A  Sincere  Prayer  answered.— His  Ecclesias- 
tical Position jijo, 

CHAPTER    XII. 

1844-1846. 

Forgetting  the  Things  behind.— New  Subject  for  Creative  Talent— 
Contemplates  Relinquishment  of  College. — What  he  had  Accom- 
plished for  Christian  Education.— The  Church  of  the  Holy  Com- 
munion.— Why  not  St.  Sacrament  ? — Peculiar  Constitution  of  Parish. 
— Architecture  of  the  Church. — Its  Interior. — Evangelical  Catholic 
Symbolism.— Church  opened  for  Divine  Worship. — Consecration  by 
Bishop  Ives. — Last  Labors  for  St.  Paul's  College.— Its  End. Suc- 
cess of  his  Educational  Work. — Reminiscences  of  Scholars— Bishop 
Bedell's  Tribute.— Anecdote.— Church  Sisterhoods.— A  Bow  drawn 
at  a  Venture.— The  First  Sister.— Answer  to  a  Young  Man  asking 
his  Friendship.— "Our  Souls  must  work  together." 175 


CONTENTS.  ix 

CHAPTER    XIII. 

1846-1849. 

PAGE 

Began  Pastorate  in  New  York. — An  Educator  still. — His  Works  linked 
together. — The  Locality. — A  Congregation  formed. — An  exceptional 
free  Church. — Its  Attractiveness. — Dr.  Muhlenberg  as  a  Preacher. — 
Pentecostal  Days. — Festival  and  Fast. — Care  for  poorer  Members. — 
A  Christian  House-warming. — The  Pastor's  Cloak. — First  Idea  of 
St.  Luke's  Hospital. — Thirty  Dollars. — Dearth  of  Hospital  Accommo- 
dation.— How  to  begin  a  Work  of  Charity. — No  Charitable  Organi- 
zations in  the  City. — Dr.  Muhlenberg's  Influence  on  Inner  Life  of  the 
Church.  —  Opposite  Elements.  —  Leaf  from  Journal. — What  three 
Years  accomplished. — Origin  of  Fresh  Air  Benefit. — First  Christ- 
mas-tree for  the  Poor. — Church  Seats. — Epigram  on  Pew  Auction. — 
Origin  of  Pews. — Bishop  Burnet  and  the  Court  Ladies 193 

CHAPTER    XIV. 

1849-1851. 

Impetus  given  to  Hospital  Project. — A  Day  in  the -Annals  of  the  Church. 
— Public  Plea  for  a  Church  Hospital. — St.  Luke's  Incorporated. — A 
Hundred  Thousand  Dollars  asked. — Large  Subscriptions. — Robert 
B.  Minturn  and  the  Anonymous  Five  Thousand. — First  Idea  as  to 
Names  of  Donors. — Review  of  Cholera  Summer. — Death  of  Choir 
Boy. — Labors  during  Epidemic. — Visiting  Cholera  Hospital. — An- 
other Chorister  taken.. — Music  of  the  Church  of  the  Holy  Communion. 
— Boy  Choirs. — Mode  of  Supporting  a  Free  Church. — The  Weekly 
Eucharist  and  Daily  Service. — A  Missionary  Meeting. — Rubrics  not 
Choke-Strings  of  the  Heart. — The  Friday  Evening  Lecture. — The 
Sacramental  System. — Bishop  Ives's  Submission  to  Rome. — Would 
like  to  wear  coarser  Clothes. — Devoted  filial  Love. — His  Moth- 
er's last  Illness  and  Death. — The  Funeral. — Tender  Sentiment.  .  214 

CHAPTER   XV. 

1851-1852. 

Projects  an  Evangelical  Catholic  Periodical. — Deference  to  his  Mother's 
Wishes. — Object  of  the  Paper. — What  is  Evangelical  Catholicism  ? — 
General  Surprise  on  Issue  of  "Evangelical  Catholic." — Longings  for 
Christian  Unity. — Hints  on  Catholic  Union. — Minor  Use  of  Period- 
ical.— Sisterhood  of  Holy  Communton  organized. — Its  Principles. — 
St.  Luke's  Hospital. — A  Young  Physician's  first  Fee. — Significant 


X  CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

Bequest. — Negotiations  of  Corporation  of  St.  Luke's  with  Church  of 
St.  George  the  Martyr.— Site  consecrated  before  determined  upon. — 
Urgent  Demands  for  Hospital  Shelter. — The  Embryo  St.  Luke's  in  a 
Rear  Tenement  House 235 

CHAPTER   XVI. 

1853-1855- 

Memorial  to  the  House  of  Bishops. — Papers  on  the  Memorial. — A  Proper 
Radicalism. — Dr.  Harwood  on  Origin  of  Memorial. — Reminiscences 
by  Dr.  E.  A.  Washburn. — Not  daunted  by  Unsuccess. — Ceaseless 
Efforts  for  Unity. — A  Favor  to  the  Sisterhood. — Infirmary  of  Church 
of  the  Holy  Communion. — Happy  Service. — Quarantined. — The  Pas- 
tor's Visits. — Ideal  of  a  Sister  of  Charity. — Corner-Stone  of  St.  Luke's 
Hospital  laid. — Location. — General  Plan  of  Building. — A  Street  In- 
cident.— Bearing  Injuries 260 

CHAPTER    XVII. 

1855-1856. 

A  Summer  in  Europe. — St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital. — St.  Barnabas, 
Pimlico.- — An  Hour  with  Maurice. — Working  Men's  Bible  Class. — A 
quiet  old  Town.— Ely  Cathedral.— The  House  of  Peers.— The  Lords 
Spiritual. — Home  Thoughts. — Switzerland. — The  Silber  Horn. — A 
Sunday  at  Strasburg. — The  Lord's  Day  in  Paris. — Refined  Godless- 
ness. — Hiibner's  Painting. — Delight  in  his  Christmas  Gift. — A  Re- 
union.— His  Sixtieth  Birthday 281 

CHAPTER   XVIII. 

1856-1859. 

Individuality  of  St.  Luke's  Hospital. — Fundamental  Idea. — Impressive- 
ness  of  Building. — Pleasure  Grounds  for  Patients, — Plan  of  Interior. 
— Another  Hundred  Thousand  Dollars. — Chapel  opened  for  Wor- 
ship.—A  Hospital  Church.— The  Furnishing  Committee.— A  double 
good  Work. — Prejudice  disarmed. — Work  begun  in  St.  Luke's. — 
Solitariness  of  Building.— The  first  Workers.— The  Hospital  a  Fam- 
ily.—Ways  and  Means.— Faith  the  best  Endowment.— Harm  of  a 
Million  of  Dollars. — Arrangement  with  Board  of  Managers. — A  wel- 
come Handsel.  Costly  and  beautiful  Gifts.— First  Annual  Report. 
—The  Hospital  Associations. 298 


CONTENTS.  xi 

CHAPTER    XIX. 

1859-1860. 

PAGE 

Takes  up  his  Abode  in  St.  Luke's. — A  lofty  Prophet's  Chamber. — Ear- 
ly Rising. — Elasticity  and  Strength. — Sixty-three  Years  old. — Sacra 
Privata. — St.  Luke's  a  Monument. — Pertinent  Words. — The  Meth- 
odist's Prayer. — Evangelical  Catholicity. — Bedside  Ministrations. — 
Three  Sketches  by  his  own  Pen. — Religious  Services. — Use  of  the 
Prayer  Book. — Household  Evening  Worship.  —  Turning  passing 
Events  to  Account. — Visitors. — Impression  on  Different  Minds. — 
Sunshine 314 

CHAPTER    XX. 

1860-1863. 

An  Episode. — Abhorrence  of  Slavery. — Fugitive  Slave  Law. — Free  Soil 
Question. — Republican  Battle  Hymn. — Votes  for  Mr.  Lincoln. — Tri- 
umph.— Bombardment  of  Fort  Sumter. — Shock  felt  in  St.  Luke's. — 
Response  to  Call  for  Volunteers. — Resident  Physician  and  Surgeon 
enlisted. — Other  Enlistments  from  Hospital. — Interest  in  his  Soldier 
Boys. — National  Hymn  and  Choral  March. — A  Christmas  Morning 
Address. — A  Hundred  Thousand  Men  to  be  drafted. — Riots. — Col- 
ored Orphan  Asylum  burned. — St.  Luke's  threatened. — Two  Days 
of  Peril. — Dr.  Muhlenberg  and  the  Rioters. — The  Vigilance  Com- 
mittee.— President's  Proclamation  for  a  General  Thanksgiving. — 
The  President's  Hymn 333 

CHAPTER    XXL 

1865-1866. 

Benevolent  Activities  during  War. — The  selfish  Landlord. — Central 
Park  Splendor. — An  unrepining  Spirit. — Evening  Hours. — Soldier 
Patients. — Favoring  the  Poorest. — A  Riddle. — Keeping  Lent. — Ef- 
forts for  general  Observance  of  Good  Friday. — Co-operation  of  Min- 
isters of  Various  Denominations. — Sermon  in  Dr.  Adams's  Church. 
—Bishop  Potter's  Pastoral.— Letters  to  a  Friend.— Dr.  SchafFs  Ser- 
vice in  Church  of  the  Holy  Communion. — Restoration  of  Church  of 
Augustus. — Growth  of  exclusive  Sentiment. — Death  of  Dr.  Cruse*. 
— A  Pair  of  Saints. — Anecdotes. — An  Olive  Branch. — Act  of  Gen- 
eral Convention  of  1865 353 


Xll 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER   XXII. 

1865-1866. 

PAGE 

Keeps  up  with  the  Christian  Thought  of  the  Day.— Literary  Ability.— 
"Christ  and  the  Bible."— "The  Woman  and  her  Accusers."— Ten 
Years  without  Verse-making. — Later  Compositions  in  Music  and  Po- 
etry.—Talent  for  Improvising. — Muhlenbergianse.— Satire  and  Mim- 
icry.—Old  Quin.— Tact  in  Reproving.—"  Deliver  us  from  Evil."- 
Permission  to  go  to  the  Theatre.— ^Ingenious  Argument.— The  Re- 
quiem Mass. — Fluctuations  of  Temper. — Portrait  by  Huntingdon. — 
Mr.  Minturn's  Death.— "The  Poor  Man's  Friend  and  Mine."— Mr. 
Minturn's  Distinguishing  Traits.— Anecdote  by  Bishop  Potter.— A 
Short  Funeral  Sermon.— The  Hospital  Burial  Plot 380 

CHAPTER   XXIII. 

1866-1869. 

St.  Johnland  Begun. — The  Benjamin  of  his  Works. — The  "Retro-pro- 
spectus."— Christian  Fatalism. — Purchase  of  Farm. — Asks  ten  more 
Years.  — A  valued  Birthday  Gift.  —  His  Golden  Wedding. — Letter 
Congratulatory  and  Retrospective. — Funds  for  St.  Johnland. — Tact 
and  Principle  in  Money  Matters. — The  Spencer  and  Wolfe  Home. 
— Three  Thousand  a  Year. — St.  Johnland's  Gaudy  Day.— "Glo- 
rious Birthday." — "Brotherly  Words." — Foundation  of  St.  John's 
Inn. — The  Boys'  House. — Church  of  the  Testimony  of  Jesus. — Mu- 
nificent Friends. — Laying  Corner-stone  of  Church. — Declaration  of 
Evangelical  Catholic  Principles. — Verses 398 

CHAPTER   XXIV. 

1869-1872. 

Incorporation  of  St.  Johnland. — Diversified  Objects  of  the  Society.— Ca- 
pabilities of  the  Place. — Not  ready  for  Cottages  at  first. — Family 
Life  fostered  in  another  Form. — St.  Johnland  Children. — Evangeli- 
cal Brotherhood. — Church  Services. — "  Directory  for  the  Use  of  the 
Book  of  Common  Prayer." — Illustration  from  Supplement. — Dedi- 
cation of  the  Church. — St.  John's  Inn  has  its  House-warming. — A 
Cottage  Tenantry. — Who  and  What  they  are  to  be. — Mistakes  Cor- 
rected.—Educational  as  to  Family  Life.— The  Great  St.  Johnland 
Text. — An  Original  Charity. — Transfer  of  Property  to  Trustees. — 
Mr.  John  D.  Wolfe's  Benefactions.— Anecdotes. — Influence  of  Dr. 
Muhlenberg  in  enlarged  Gifts  of  Benevolence 424 


CONTENTS.  xiii 

CHAPTER   XXV. 

1872-1873. 

PAGE 

A  summer  Holiday. — The  Peasantry  of  Europe  and  St.  Johnland. — 
London. — Essay  on  Potentiality  of  the  English  Bishops.  A  Birth- 
day abroad. — Home. — A  Sea-Song. — The  Bells  of  St.  Thomas's 
Church. — Unimpaired  Sensibility  and  Sportiveness. — Characteristics 
of  early  Manhood  unchanged. — Extract  from  Letter. — The  freshest 
of  the  Party 444 

CHAPTER    XXVI. 

1873-1874. 

One  more  Effort  for  Unity. — Address  before  Evangelical  Alliance. — 
Representative  United  Communion. — Hedging  in  the  Lord's  Table. 
— Anticipation. — "  Veni  Creator." — The  Dean  of  Canterbury,  Bishop 
Cummins,  and  the  Archbishop's  Chaplain  commune  in  Presbyterian 
Churches. — A  Word  going  to  the  Root  of  the  Matter. — Liberality  of 
the  Episcopal  Church  as  to  Communion. — An  Evangelical  Catholic 
Union. — Bishop  Cummins's  Secession  deplored. — A  published  Dis- 
approval.— Reformed  Episcopal  Church. — Not  an  earnest  Religious 
Movement. — Illness. — Mental  Depression. — Spiritual  Communion. — 
A  last  Writing  in  Journal 454 

CHAPTER    XXVII. 

1874-1876. 

Gradual  Convalescence. — Never  resumed  his  Pen. — Gleanings  from  his 
Friend's  Diary. — "Is  it  not  legitimate?  " — Visions  of  St.  Johnland. 
— People  asking  his  Blessing. — Shrinking  from  Compliment. — Fear 
of  human  Praise. — What  People  asked  of  him — Esteeming  others 
better  than  himself. — "Christ  is  all." — A  Conscience  void  of  Of- 
fence.— Last  Use  of  his  private  Journals. — A  Visit  to  the  General 
Convention. — Improved  Health. — Could  Enjoy  a  Trip  to  Europe. — 
Counts  his  Residence  in  St.  Luke's  a  Favor. — Never  such  another 
Christian  within  those  Walls. — Delight  in  small  Services  for  the 
Poor. — "Don't  be  too  sharp  in  rinding  them  out." — Notably  Vic- 
timized.— Nothing  more  to  take  care  of. 465 

CHAPTER    XXVIII. 

1876-1877. 

Seldom  at  St.  Johnland. — Delight  in  sheltering  Children  there. — Dr. 
Adams's  Lunch  Party. — Another  "I  would  not  live  alway." — Four- 
score not  Labor  and  Sorrow. — The  Youth  of  the  Angels. — The  right 


xiv  CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

Side  of  Seventy. — Does  not  expect  to  lie  down  in  the  Dust. — The 
Festival  of  the  Ascension. — Happy  Gathering  at  St.  Johnland. — 
The  Chapel  Service. — The  Founder's  Well. — Muhlenberg  Endow- 
ment.— Eightieth  Birthday. — "Let  me  die  in  my  Nest."  .  .  .  .478 

CHAPTER   XXIX. 

1876-1877. 

The  Shadows  lengthen.— Joy  and  Peace.— Effect  of  Birthday  Tribute. — 
Public  Esteem. — "From  Tweed  to  Dr.  Muhlenberg." — His  Latest 
Labors. — Last  Visit  to  his  Sister. — Washington's  Birthday. — Sudden 
Illness. — Six  Weeks  of  Trial. — Died  as  he  had  lived. — Simplicity 
of  Burial. — The  Arrival  at  St.  Johnland. — Impression  on  Bishop 
Kerfoot. — A  noble  Pageant. — His  Grave-stone. — The  Contributors. 
— St.  Johnland  Cemetery 489 

CHAPTER    XXX. 

CONCLUSION. 

Effect  upon  Community  of  his  Death. — Multitude  of  Tributes. — Extracts 
from  the  more  important. — The  Bishop  of  Long  Island  and  others. 
— An  Ode  "In  Memoriam." v. 514 


THE  LIFE 

OF 

WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 


CHAPTER  I. 

ANCESTRY. 

The  Muhlenberg  Family. — The  Patriarch  Muhlenberg.— General  Muhlen- 
berg's  Last  Sermon. — The  Marriage  of  William  Augustus  Muhlenberg's 
Father  and  Mother  in  Connection  with  the  Jay  Treaty.  —  Conrad 
Weiser.— Question  as  to  Whom  he  Married. 

THE  Muhlenbergs  are  associated  with  the  earliest 
days  of  the  republic  as  a  highly  respected  and  hon- 
orable family.  Men  eminent  for  piety  and  learning, 
for  patriotism  and  public  usefulness,  grace  their  annals. 
The  parent  stock  was  Saxon,  probably  of  the  historic 
town  of  Muhlberg,  on  the  Elbe,  but  in  the  course  of 
events,  they  removed  to  Eimbeck,  in  Hanover,  then 
one  of  the  free  cities  of  Germany,  and  here,  in  1711, 
was  born  theT  founder  of  the  American  branch  of  the 
name,  "  the  blessed  and  venerable  Henry  Melchior 
Muhlenberg,"  as  he  is  styled  in  his  epitaph  at  The 
Trappe,  Montgomery  Co.,  Pa.,  the  burial-place  of  the 
Muhlenberg  families. 

This  great  and  good  man,  owing  to  the  early  death 

of  his  father  and  other  reverses,  had  a  hard  struggle 
1 


2  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

in  obtaining  the  education  which  ultimately  adorned 
his  piety  and  talents.  He  passed  some  time  in  the 
orphanage  of  Francke,  at  Halle,  and  was  twenty-four 
years  old  when  he  entered  upon  a  collegiate  course 
at  Gottingen.  After  his  graduation  there  he  returned 
to  Halle,  where  he  was  ordained  to  the  ministry  of 
the  Lutheran  Church. 

During  his  residence  in  the  universities  of  Gottin- 
gen and  Halle,  he  formed  the  acquaintance  of  learned 
and  noble  persons  who  became  his  warm  friends  and 
patrons.  In  the  Heister  branch  of  the  Muhlenberg 
family  there  is  preserved  as  an  heirloom  an  ancient 
silver-mounted  snuff-box  which  was  given  to  him,  as 
a  token  of  friendship,  by  Frederick  the  Great.  Chief 
in  his  regard  was  his  early  benefactor,  the  eminent 
Christian  philanthropist  and  scholar,  Augustus  Herman 
Francke,  in  connection  with  whose  mission  house,  in 
1742,  he  accepted  an  appointment  as  missionary  to 
the  German  and  Swedish  Lutherans  in  the  then  British 
Provinces  of  America.  He  had  supposed  himself  des- 
tined to  a  mission  in  the  East  Indies,  and  was  making 
ready  to  go  to  Bengal,  when  a  seemingly  fortuitous 
circumstance  made  it  plain  that  Providence  had  or- 
dered it  otherwise.  It  was  reserved  for  him  to  be 
the  founder  and  Patriarch  of  the  Lutheran  Church  in 
this  land,  and  to  transmit,  through  his  eminent  great- 
grandson,  a  more  extended  blessing. 

He  wa's  a  man  of  many  gifts  and  of  apostolic  zeal. 
With  wonderful  endurance,  he  traversed  the  country 
from  Georgia  to  the  borders  of  Canada,  building 


THE   PATRIARCH'S  LABORS.  3 

churches  and  schools,  preaching  and  teaching  in  dif- 
ferent languages,  and  so  comforting  the  scattered  fam- 
ilies of  his  people  that  they  called  him  everywhere 
"Father  Muhlenberg,"  by  which  endearing  epithet  he 
is  still  designated  among  Lutherans.  His  first  church, 
built  in  the  first  year  of  his  mission,  at  the  village  of 
Trappe,  Pa.,  he  named  "The  Church  of  Augustus,"  after 
his  friend  Fran  eke,  and  he  also  added  "Augustus"  to 
the  "Frederick"  of  his  second  son's  name,  whence  it  has 
descended  to  numerous  individuals  of  the  Muhlenberg 
race,  and  among  them  to  the  subject  of  these  memoirs. 
The  latter  gratefully  remembered  to  the  end  of  his  long 
life  the  far-back  kindness  of  Francke  to  the  head  of  his 
family,  and  sometimes  when,  in  his  abounding  sym- 
pathy for  some  forlorn  youth,  he  thought  he  might 
seem  to  be  doing  too  much,  he  would  say,  half  apolo- 
gizingly,  "You  know  my  great-grandfather  was  a  poor 
orphan  boy  at  Halle." 

The  Patriarch  Muhlenberg  had  three  sons:  John 
Peter  Gabriel,  Frederick  Augustus,  and  Henry  Ernst, 
all  of  whom  he  designed  for  the  ministry.  He  sent 
them  to  Halle  to  be  educated  for  this  purpose;  but 
the  young  men  returned  to  America,  just  as  the  long 
smouldering  fires  of  the  Kevolution  were  ready  to  break 
out  in  war,  and  patriotic  and  high-spirited,  the  field 
and  the  council  had  more  attraction  for  them  than  the 
pulpit.  Henry,  the  youngest,  alone  fulfilled  his  father's 
intentions.  He  passed  his  days  as  a  pious  and  devoted 
Lutheran  pastor,  adding  to  his  spiritual  cure  a  close 
study  of  the  natural  sciences,  in  which  he  obtained 


4  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

eminence,  particularly  that  of  botany.  During  an  en- 
forced absence  from  his  church,  through  stress  of  war, 
he  contributed  some  valuable  works  to  this  department. 

Peter,  the  eldest  son,  took  orders,  very  curiously, 
both  in  the  Lutheran  and  the  English  Church.  He 
had  for  his  parochial  charge  the  so-called  "Valley 
Churches"  of  the  Blue  Eidge,  Va., — a  hardy,  indepen- 
dent flock,  with  whose  spirit  of  resistance  to  Great 
Britain  he  keenly  sympathized.  He  instructed  his 
people  openly  in  their  civil  rights,  and  accepted  the 
colonelcy  of  a  regiment,  while  yet  their  pastor.  At 
length,  probably  through  the  influence  of  General 
Washington  and  Patrick  Henry,  with  both  of  whom 
he  had  a  personal  acquaintance,  he  finally  abandoned 
the  sacred  ministry  for  a  military  career. 

"  His  congregations,  widely  scattered  along  the  fron- 
tier, were  notified  that,  upon  the  following  Sabbath, 
their  beloved  pastor  would  preach  his  farewell  ser- 
mon  The  appointed  day  came.  The  rude 

country  church  was  filled  to  overflowing  with  the 
hardy  mountaineers  of  the  frontier  counties.  .  .  .  v 
So  great  was  the  assemblage  that  the  quiet  burial-place 
was  filled  with  crowds  of  stern  men  who  had  gathered 
together  believing  that  something,  they  knew  not  what, 
would  be  done  in  behalf  of  their  suffering  country. 

He  came  and  ascended  the  pulpit,  his  tall 

form  arrayed  in  full  uniform,  over  which  his  gown,  the 
symbol  of  his  holy  office,  was  thrown.  He  was  a  plain, 
straightforward  speaker,  whose  native  eloquence  was 
well  suited  to  the  people  among  whom  he  labored. 


GENERAL   MUHLENBERG.  5 

After  recapitulating,  in  words  that  roused 

the  coldest,  the  story  of  their  wrongs,  and  telling  them 
of  the  sacred  character  of  the  struggle  in  which  he  had 
unsheathed  his  sword,  and  for  which  he  was  leaving 
the  altar  he  had  vowed  to  serve,  he  said,  that,  in  the 
language  of  Holy  Writ,  there  was  'a  time  for  all 
things,'  a  time  to  preach  and  a  time  to  pray,  but  those 
times  had  passed  away,  and,  in  a  voice  that  echoed 
through  the  church  like  a  trumpet  blast,  'that  there 
was  a  time  to  fight,  and  that  time  had  come.'  .  .  . 
A  breathless  stillness  brooded  over  the  congregation. 
Deliberately  putting  off  the  gown,  he  stood  before  them 
a  girded  warrior,  and  descending  from  the  pulpit,  he 
ordered  the  drums  at  the  church  door  to  beat  for  re- 
cruits  His  audience,  excited  in  the  highest 

degree  by  the  impassioned  words  which  had  fallen 
from  his  lips,  flocked  around  him,  eager  to  be  ranked 
among  his  followers.  Old  men  were  seen  bringing 
forward  their  children,  wives  their  husbands,  and 
widowed  mothers  their  sons,  sending  them  under  his 
paternal  care  to  fight  the  battles  of  their  country. 

Nearly  three  hundred  men  of  the  frontier 

churches  that  day  enlisted  under  his  banner,  and  the 
gown  then  thrown  off,  was  worn  for  the  last  time."* 
He  rose  to  the  rank  of  Major-General,  and  holds 
an  honored  place  among  the  patriot  heroes  of  the 
Revolution. 

His  brother  Frederick  Augustus,  the  Patriarch's  sec- 

*  "  Life  of  General  Muhlenberg." 


6  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS   MUHLENBERG. 

ond  son,  served  his  country  as  a  statesman.  He  was 
successively  Treasurer  of  the  State,  President  of  the 
Convention  which  ratified  the  Constitution  of  the 
United  States,  member  of  Congress,  and  First  Speaker 
of  the  House  of  Kepresentatives  under  Washington's 
administration.* 

In  the  year  1795,  while  Frederick  A.  Muhlenberg 
filled  the  Speaker's  chair  for  the  second  time,  his  eldest 
son,  Henry  William,  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Mr. 
William  Sheafe,  a  merchant  of  Philadelphia  of  German 
extraction,  and  William  Augustus  Muhlenberg  was  the 
eldest  child  of  this  union. 

Henry  W.  Muhlenberg  was  paying  his  addresses  to 
Miss  Mary  Sheafe  at  the  time  that  the  nation  became  so 
frenzied  in  the  fierce  agitation  which  followed  the  rati- 
fication of  the  "  Jay  Treaty."  The  House  of  Kepresent- 
atives was  composed  largely  of  the  opponents  of  the 
treaty,  and  it  was  for  a  long  time  doubtful  if  the  bills 
for  the  indemnification  of  Great  Britain,  which  made 
part  of  it,  would  be  passed.  Mr.  Sheafe,  a  strong  fed- 
eralist, anticipating  that  the  vote  would  be  a  very 
close  one,  perhaps  a  tie,  when  the  casting  vote  of  the 
Speaker  would  be  all-important,  is  reported  to  have  said 
to  Frederick  A.  Muhlenberg,  "If  you  do  not  give  us 
(the  federalists)  your  vote,  your  Henry  shall  not  have 
my  Polly."  It  was  ascertained  that  the  leaning  of  the 
Speaker  was  in  the  right  direction,  and  Henry  and 
Polly  were  married  accordingly.  The  bills  subsequently 

*  Blake. 


CONRAD    WEISER.  7 

passed  by  a  bare  majority.  William  Augustus  Muhl- 
enberg  was  fond  of  telling  this  little  story  as  showing 
how  nearly  he  might  not  have  been  what  he  was  (so 
high  did  party  feeling  run),  usually  adding,  "But  the 
vote  went  the  right  way,  peace  was  secured,  and  here 
I  am." 

Both  families,  from  the  period  of  their  settlement  in 
the  country,  having  married  within  their  own  nation- 
ality, he  was  of  purely  German  descent,  unless  we  ac- 
cept a  tradition,  cherished  by  himself,  of  a  strain  of  the 
aboriginal  American,  through  the  union  of  a  remote 
ancestor,  Conrad  Weiser,  with  an  Indian  maiden.  He 
used  to  say,  "  I  like  to  think  there  is  a  drop  of  genuine 
American  blood  in  my  veins."  Upon  this  obscure  ques- 
tion there  is  much  difference  of  opinion  in  the  Weiser 
family.*  Conrad  Weiser's  fragmentary  yet  eventful  his- 
tory affords  warrant  for  inferring  that  there  was  such  a 
marriage ;  a  confirmation  of  which  is  further  suggested 
by  the  physiognomy  of  some  of  the  descendants,  and 
among  these,  of  that  of  William  Augustus  Muhlenberg, 
whose  lineaments  clearly  indicated  a  not  unmixed  Teu- 
tonic origin. 

Conrad  Weiser  figures  prominently  in  our  provincial 
history.  He  was  born  in  1696,  in  Astael,  or  Afstaefdt, 
in  the  electorate  or  duchy  of  Wurtemberg.  In  1709  he 
emigrated  with  his  father  and  others  of  the  family 

*  Dr.  C.  L.  Weiser  of  Pennsburg,  Pa.,  in  a  recent  biography,  re- 
jects the  tradition,  until  actual  "record"  be  adduced.  On  the  other 
hand,  Mr.  Thos.  B.  A.  Weiser  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  a  grandson  of 
Conrad  Weiser's  youngest  son  Benjamin,  entirely  accepts  it. 


8  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS   MUHLENBERG. 

to  New  York.  At  seventeen,  a  friendly  chief  inviting 
him,  he  was  sent  to  live  for  a  while  with  the  Maquas  or 
"  Six  Nations  "  Indians,  for  the  purpose  of  learning  their 
language  and  modes  of  life,  and  returning  thence  he 
acted  for  some  years  as  a  volunteer  interpreter  between 
his  own  people  and  the  native  tribes  of  the  neighbor- 
hood. He  became  in  due  time  the  pioneer  of  the  Ger- 
mans in  the  settlement  of  Central  Pennsylvania,  and 
for  thirty  years  served  as  Indian  agent  and  interpreter 
for  the  colonial  government  of  Philadelphia.  His  rec- 
ord is  that  of  a  man  of  great  probity  and  piety,  and  of 
untiring  industry  in  the  service  of  his  adopted  country. 
In  addition  to  his  arduous  official  duties,  he  labored 
zealously  for  the  conversion  of  the  Indians  to  Chris- 
tianity, associating  himself,  for  this  purpose,  with  such 
men  as  Spangenberg,  Ziesberger,  and  Count  Zinzen- 
dorf.  To  qualify  some  Moravian  brethren  to  preach  the 
gospel  to  the  Maqua  and  Iroquois  tribes,  he  instructed 
them  himself  in  the  native  tongues.  Under  all  these 
circumstances,  and  taking  into  account  an  ardent  and 
enthusiastic  nature  and  the  primitive  manners  of  those 
days,  it  would  be  nothing  incredible  that  he  should 
choose  an  Indian  convert  for  his  bride.  The  mention 
that  he  makes  of  his  marriage  in  a  brief  autobiography, 
which  has  been  preserved,  justifies  the  assumption  that 
he  did  so,  thus:  "In  1720,  while  my  father  was  in  Eng- 
land, I  married  my  Anna  Eve,  and  was  given  her  in 
marriage,  by  the  Rev.  John  Frederick  Heger,  reformed 
clergyman,  on  the  22nd  of  November,  in  my  father's 
house  in  Schochary.':  The  omission  here  and  through- 


ANNA    EVE.  9 

out  the  biography  of  any  patronymic  in  speaking  of 
his  wife,  while  he  gives  that  of  his  mother;  the  cele- 
bration of  the  marriage,  contrary  to  German  usage,  in 
the  house  of  the  bridegroom's  father ;  and  the  Christian 
name  of  the  bride, — all  point  to  the  verification  of  the 
tradition.  "Anna"  as  the  name  of  his  godly  mother 
whom  he  piously  revered,  and  "Eve"  as  that  of  the 
primeval  woman,  would  in  the  poetic  German  mind  be 
a  very  natural  baptismal  name  for  one  who,  so  to  speak, 
was  to  be  the  progenitress  of  a  new  race.  But,  per- 
haps, there  is  room  for  a  different  and  less  romantic 
theory. 

Anna  Maria,  the  eldest  surviving  daughter  of  Conrad 
Weiser  and  his  "  Anna  Eve,"  became  the  wife  of  Henry 
Melchior  Muhlenberg,  and  was  thus  William  Augustus 
Muhlenberg's  great-grandmother,  on  the  father's  side. 


fa  CHAPTER  II. 

1796-1811. 

Birth  and  Childhood.— Early  Religious  Sentiment.— Death  of  his  Father. 
— Preference  for  the  Episcopal  Church  in  his  ninth  Year.— A  Quaker 
School-master. — The  Academy. — Exemplary  Boyhood. — Inventive  Fac- 
ulty.— St.  James's  Church. — Disappointment  at  the  Consecration. — In- 
nate Ecclesiastical  ^Estheticism. — Boy  Journals. — Grammar  School  of 
the  University,  Pa. 

WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG  was  born  in  Phila- 
delphia 011  the  16th  of  September,  1796,  in  a  house 
which  then  stood  on  the  corner  of  Third  and  Cherry 
Streets,  but  has  since  been  pulled  down.  He  was 
baptized  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Helmuth  of  the  Lutheran 
Church. 

With  the  first  dawn  of  reason  he  seems  to  have 
known  the  fear  and  love  of  God.  Questioned  upon 
this  point,  he  replied:  "I  think  I  can  say,  there  never 
was  a  time,  that  I  was  unmindful  of  the  presence  of 
God,  or  without  reverence  for  divine  things,  and  I 
always  looked  forward  to  being  a  clergyman.  When 
not  more  than  eight  years  old,  I  remember  I  used  to 
have  church  on  Sunday  evenings,  going  through  a 
kind  of  preaching,  at  which  the  family  would  attend, 
to  encourage  me  with  their  presence.  I  recollect  very 
well  that  when  I  didn't  behave  myself,  they  would 
say  to  me,  'William,  that  will  not  do  for  a  minister.'" 


THE   LITTLE    PREACHER.  11 

The  youthful  sermons  here  alluded  to  were  much 
thought  of  by  his  relatives,  but  no  notes  of  any  of 
them  have  been  kept.  They  were  not  childish  gib- 
berish or  "make-believe"  church,  but  as  serious  an  ex- 
planation and  application  of  a  text  as  the  thoughtful 
little  preacher  knew  how  to  give.  At  the  same  time, 
child-like,  he  would  always  have  a  crimson  shawl 
placed  over  a  piece  of  furniture  for  a  pulpit,  and  never 
forgot  to  take  up  a  collection,  the  man-servant  being 
usually  present  with  a  plate  for  the  purpose. 

One  life-long  peculiarity,  familiar  to  those  who  knew 
him  thoroughly,  manifested  itself  at  a  very  tender  age. 
It  did  not  matter  how  well  he  succeeded  in  what  he 
took  in  hand  to  do,  or  how  much  approbation  might 
be  bestowed  upon  his  work,  he  would  invariably  point 
out  wherein  it  might  have  been  more  perfect,  never 
reaching  his  own  ideal.  His  father,  whom  he  lost 
when  scarce  nine  years  old,  is  remembered  as  in  the 
habit  of  remarking  to  his  mother,  "What  a  pity  Wil- 
liam always  makes  us  see  how  much  better  he  might 
have  done  that  which  pleased  us  so  well ! "  One  mar- 
vels what  were  those  performances  of  a  boy  of  seven 
or  eight  years,  which  drew  forth  such  comment. 

William  retained  a  vivid  impression  of  the  last  hours 
spent  with  his  father.  Mr.  Muhlenberg  died  suddenly 
of  apoplexy,  and  the  evening  preceding  the  attack  he 
drove  his  young  son  in  a  chaise  from  Philadelphia 
to  their  country-house  at  JSTorristowri,  The  boy  never 
saw  his  father  alive  again,  and  to  the  last  of  his  days 
always  associated  a  mellow  September  evening  in  the 


12  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

country,  and  its  attendant  sights  and  sounds,  with  his 
father's  death. 

A  further  incident,  in  this  connection,  also  impressed 
him  strongly.  It  would  seem  that  in  the  excitement 
attendant  upon  the  sudden  illness  of  Mr.  Muhlenberg 
the  boy  was  left  for  a  time  unheeded,  not  even  know- 
ing that  his  father  had  expired.  Wandering  in  a  mel- 
ancholy manner  about  the  house,  he  was  mounting  the 
stairs  when  a  door  opened  above  and  some  member  of 
the  household  came  out.  "Well,  William,"  she  said, 
"  your  father's  dead ; "  and  then,  in  the  same  breath,  to 
a  servant  who  stood  below,  "Betsy,  put  on  the  hams;" 
the  funeral  hams,  that  is,  according  to  a  custom,  in 
those  times,  of  spreading  a  collation  for  the  mourners. 
A  keen  sense  of  the  incongruous  stamped  this  scene 
upon  the  child's  mind  no  less  forcibly  than  did  his 
tenderness  and  sensibility  that  of  the  sunset  drive. 

There  were  two  other  children:  a  daughter  next  in 
age  to  himself,  afterwards  Mrs.  Mary  Rogers,  and  an- 
other son,  Frederick  Augustus,  who  became  a  physi- 
cian and  died  in  the  prime  of  life.  A  pretty  picture 
has  come  down  to  us  of  William  and  his  sister,  one 
nine  the  other  seven  years  of  age,  going  alone,  hand 
in  hand,  reverently  and  discreetly,  Sunday  after  Sun- 
day, to  Christ  Church,  Philadelphia.  The  worship  of 
the  Lutheran  Church,  at  that  time,  was  in  German, 
and  as  the  children  were  ignorant  of  the  language, 
their  mother  did  not  require  them  to  attend  there; 
so,  left  to  himself  in  the  matter,  the  boy  thus  early 
made  his  election  of  the  Episcopal  Church.  Old  Christ 


GENERAL    WASHINGTON'S   PEW.  13 

Church  became  very  dear  to  him,  especially  its  grand 
organ,  which,  to  his  ears,  none  other  ever  equalled. 
Bishop  White,  the  rector,  owing  to  some  annoyance 
experienced  by  the  congregation,  had  made  a  rule  ex- 
cluding all  children  not  accompanied  by  their  parents 
or  guardians,  but  the  devout  behavior  of  this  little 
pair  procured  them  an  exemption,  and  some  good  peo- 
ple observing  their  regular  attendance  gave  them  a 
seat  in  the  gallery,  where  a  noticeable  object  of  inter- 
est for  them  was  General  Washington's  pew,  which 
still  retained  its  red  velvet  linings.* 

After  a  while  a  Lutheran  minister  the  Kev.  Philip 
Meyer,  began  to  preach  in  English,  and  then  Mrs. 
Muhlenberg  desired  the  children  to  go  with  her. 
They  did  not  at  all  like  the  change,  especially  as  the 
Lutheran  services  were  held  in  a  hall  without  any  of 
the  attractive  accompaniments  of  worship  to  which 
they  had  grown  accustomed  in  Christ  Church. 

William's  education  began  with  a  school-mistress,  of 
whom  he  retained  only  the  faintest  remembrance.  He 
was  next  placed  at  a  seminary  of  the  Quakers,  or 
Friends,  under  one  Jeremiah  Paul,  where  he  acquired 
the  rudiments  of  English,  but  not  making  the  progress 
his  mother  expected,  she  removed  him.  He  said  of 

*  There  is  an  anecdote  with  regard  to  General  Washington's  church- 
going,  which  may  be  told  here:  "In  the  English  Prayer-Book,  the 
Litany  follows  the  'Collect  for  Grace,' — the  American  revisers  of  the 
book  have  placed  it  after  the  'Prayer  for  the  President,'  which  took 
the  place  of  that  for  the  'King's  Majesty.'  This  was  done,  Bishop 
White  said,  that  General  Washington,  not  attending  church  in  the 
afternoon,  might  hear  the  prayer  in  his  behalf."— W.  A.  MUHLENBEBG. 


14  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

this  school:  "My  most  distinct  recollections  are  that 
we  had  to  go  to  Quaker  meeting  every  Thursday  morn- 
ing and  there  sit  quiet  for  two  hours ;  and  on  the  day 
of  my  leaving  I  received  a  whipping  from  the  school- 
master; good  old  Jeremiah,  as  he  applied  the  rattan, 
saying,  'I  ought  to  have  given  thee  more  of  this,  and 
then  thy  mother  would  not  have  to  complain  of  thee 
learning  so  little.'"  This  vindictive  castigation  was 
the  one  whipping  of  his  boyhood.  After  this  he  was 
entered  at  the  Philadelphia  Academy,  at  that  time  a 
celebrated  school  in  charge  of  the  Eev.  Dr.  Abercrom- 
bie,  one  of  the  assistant  ministers  of  Christ  Church,  and 
famous  for  his  pulpit  oratory. 

About  this  time  Mrs.  Muhlenberg,  with  her  three 
children,  went  to  live  with  her  mother,  Mrs.  Sheafe,  at 
the  northeast  corner  of  Market  and  Seventh  Streets.* 

William  had  a  chivalrous  love  and  admiration  for  his 
mother,  and  often  dwelt  fondly  on  the  fact  that  though 
left  a  widow  so  young,  with  wealth  and  beauty  in  pos- 
session, she  did  not  marry  again,  but  devoted  herself, 
and  the  fortune  she  inherited  from  her  father,  solely  to 
the  benefit  of  her  children. 

He,  on  his  part,  was  the  pride  and  delight  of  mother 

*  Mrs.  Sheafe' s  maiden  name  was  Seckel,  and  to  her  brother,  Mr. 
Lawrence  Seckel,  we  owe  the  delicious  little  pear  of  this  name.  When 
William  Augustus  Muhlenberg  was  a  child,  visiting  at  his  great- 
uncle's,  a  German  used  to  bring  these  pears  for  sale,  always  refus- 
ing to  tell  where  he  got  them.  After  a  time  Mr.  Lawrence  Seckel 
purchased  some  land  of  the  German,  and  there  was  the  pear-tree 
from  scions  of  which  the  fruit  has  been  propagated  throughout  the 
country. 


INVENTIVE   FACULTY.  15 

and  grandmother,  and  was  treated  by  them  with  an  in- 
dulgence which  he  never  abused.  Keferring  to  this 
period,  his  sister  says  of  him,  "He  was  a  most  reliable 
boy  and  a  very  amusing  brother,  always  entertaining 
us  with  some  new  play  or  exhibition."  He  was  very 
ingenious,  and  in  the  intervals,  of  lessons  occupied  him- 
self in  scientific  illustrations ;  in  mezzotinting  on  glass, 
in  making  fireworks,  in  which  he  excelled,  and  in 
mimic  theatricals.  He  had  a  workroom  at  the  top  of 
the  house  where  he  carried  on  these  operations,  and  a 
friendly  druggist  at  the  corner  of  the  street  with  whom 
he  was  very  intimate  on  the  subject  of  the  chemicals 
necessary  in  his  experiments,  so  that  his  grandmother 
used  to  say  his  choice  of  a  profession  lay  between  that 
of  a  clergyman  and  an  apothecary. 

In  the  spring  of  1806  an  accidental  circumstance 
greatly  furthered  the  boy's,  predilection  for  the  Epis- 
copal Church.  The  growth  of  the  city  of  Philadelphia, 
and  the  tendency  of  the  population  towards  the  west- 
ward parts,  made  an  Episcopal  place  of  worship  neces- 
sary in  that  direction,  and  the  vestry  of  Christ  Church 
and  St.  Peter's  appointed  a  committee  to  consider  "  the 
ways  and  means  for  building  another  church."  Search- 
ing for  a  suitable  site  in  the  neighborhood  of  Seventh 
and  Market  Streets,  they  came  upon  a  lot  of  ground 
belonging  to  his  mother,  Mrs.  Mary  Muhlenberg,  and 
bought  the  same  of  her  for  the  sum  of  eight  thousand 
five  hundred  dollars ;  and  on  June  10th  of  the  following 
year  the  corner-stone  of  St.  James's  Church  was  laid, 
St.  James's  being  included  in  the  same  corporation 


16  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

with  Christ  Church  and  St.  Peter's,  and  Bishop  White 
being  rector  of  the  three  as  "united  churches."  The 
vestry,  in  purchasing  the  land  of  Mrs.  Muhlenberg, 
gave  her,  besides  the  money,  a  large  "double  pew," 
as  it  was  called,  in  the  middle  aisle.  This,  and  the 
proximity  of  the  new  church  to  their  dwelling  were 
arguments  for  the  attendance  of  the  mother  and  her 
children  there,  which  the  eldest  son  eagerly  pressed, 
and  not  without  effect.  Mrs.  Muhlenberg  determined 
upon  the  change,  though  in  so  doing  she  had  to  exer- 
cise much  firmness  in  resisting  the  opposition  of  differ- 
ent members  of  her  family  who  had  then  joined  the 
English  Lutheran  congregation  already  alluded  to. 
They  thought  she  did  grievously  wrong  in  forsaking 
what  they  termed  "the  old  faith."  Nevertheless,  later, 
most  of  them  followed  her  example. 

Meanwhile  the  church  was  completed,  and  when 
the  day  for  the  consecration  arrived,  William  was  all 
anticipation.  The  occasion  failed,  in  one  respect,  to 
meet  his  expectations.  Their  house  being  very  near 
the  church,  it  had  been  arranged  that  the  bishop 
and  clergy  should  meet  there  to  put  on  their  robes 
and  form  the  procession.  Afterwards,  however,  Bishop 
White,  wishing  to  make  as  little  parade  through  the 
streets  as  possible,  preferred  a  house  still  nearer  the 
church.  "I  well  remember,"  he  said,  "what  a  sore 
disappointment  it  was  to  me;  for  I  had  been  talking 
with  my  schoolmates  of  the  great  honor  to  be  done 
our  house  in  the  bishop  thus  using  it."  The  consecra- 
tion took  place  May  1st,  1810. 


ECCLESIASTICAL   ^STffETICISM.  17 

William  Augustus  Muhlenberg  was  innately  a  church 
boy,  and  a  devout  appreciation  of  sacred  offices  and  of 
the  meaning  of  fast  and  festival  was  intuitive  with  him. 
Further,  his  strong  natural  taste  for  the  scenic  made 
the  appropriate  application  of  it  to  the  offices  of  relig- 
ion delightful.  This  was  spontaneous,  instinctive, — 
neither  the  result  of  teaching  nor  the  imitation  of  any 
model, — and  it  goes  far  to  harmonize,  or  at  least  ex- 
plain, the  seeming  inconsistencies,  in  after  years,  of 
his  ecclesiastical  gestheticism  with  his  immovable  evan- 
gelic faith. 

From  childhood  he  entered  heartily  into  the  Church 
Year.  Page  after  page  of  his  boy  journals  is  filled  with 
notices  of  the  festivals  as  they  come,  and  how  he  ob- 
served them.  These  youthful  diaries  are  very  artless 
jottings  of  whatever  happens  to  concern  him,  and, 
particularly,  of  his  faults  and  shortcomings;  for,  from 
first  to  last,  never  was  soul  more  honest  with  itself. 

Yet  the  scrawled  and  blotted  pages  are  none  the  less 
alive  with  true  boy  nature,  his  sports  with  his  com- 
panions, his  likes  and  dislikes,  with  many  a  droll  and 
keen  observation  of  men  and  things  as  he  meets  them. 

One  of  his  minutes  of  Christmas  exhibits  strongly 
his  ardor  for  religious  services,  and  is  illustrative,  pro- 
phetically, of  maturer  days.  After  noting,  on  Christ- 
mas Eve,  that  school  was  broken  up  until  after  New 
Year's  Day,  that  the  confectioners'  and  fruit  stores  are 
in  holiday  array,  and  the  mince  pies  being  made  at 
home,  he  adds:  "I  have  dressed  mamma's  room  and 
my  own  with  boughs  as  handsomely  as  I  could ; "  and 
2 


18  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

then  drawing  with  his  pen,  at  the  head  of  the  page,  a 
large  glory-rayed  star  with  the  monogram  |j.  g.  £.  in 
the  centre,  he  writes:  "Prepare,  my  soul,  to  celebrate 
thy  Saviour's  birth.  Behold,  my  soul,  thy  Saviour  born 
in  a  manger !  How  great  the  condescension !  Oh,  the 
love  of  God!  My  soul  swells  with  holy  love.  Oh!  sa- 
cred flame  keep  up."  He  records  that  at  seven  o'clock 
on  Christmas  morning  he  went  into  St.  Mary's  and 
"all  the  chapels,"  and  then  to  morning  service  at  St. 
James's,  which  he  found  decorated  "as  well  as  might 
be,"  but  evidently  not  to  his  satisfaction.  He  tells 
of  the  sermon  by  Dr.  Abercrombie,  and  that  he  stayed 
to  witness  the  celebration  of  the  Lord's  Supper  (he 
had  not  yet  been  confirmed),  then  of  the  afternoon 
service  by  Mr.  Kemper.  He  enjoys  it  all,  and  regrets 
at  night  that  the  day  is  over.  "  0  dies .  felicissima ! 
Dies  dilecta ! "  he  exclaims,  "  How  happy  should  I  be 
if  I  could  spend  all  my  days  like  this !  "  At  the  same 
time  he  laments  that  the  services  were  not  richer  and 
fuller.  "Were  I  an  archbishop,  the  churches  on  this 
most  holy  day  should  shine  with  brilliancy,  not  poor 
laurel  only.  I  would  have  the  altar  in  white,  a  large 
painting  representing  the  Nativity,  wreaths  of  cedar 
and  laurel  to  hide  the  walls,  a  choir  with  loud-bursting 
organ  and  thousand  voices  should  sing  their  alleluias. 
Churches  I  would  have  builded  in  the  most  magnificent 
manner,"  etc.,  etc.  ;  concluding  with,  "  but  I  am  young. 
I  speak  not  contrary  to  what  our  good  bishop  thinks 
wise." 

Before  this,  in  his  twelfth  year,  he  had  completed  his 


PREFERENCE    FOR    THE   MINISTRY.  19 

merely  English  education  at  the  academy,  receiving  a 
diploma  for  his  proficiency  in  the  different  branches. 
At  the  commencement,  which  consisted  chiefly  in  exer- 
cises in  elocution,  being  required  to  take  part  in  an 
original  dialogue  on  the  "  Choice  of  a  Profession,"  true 
to  his  earliest  wish,  he  declared  his  preference  for  the 
sacred  ministry,  quoting  from  Cowper: 

"The  pulpit,  therefore— (and  I  name  it  filled 
With  solemn  awe,  that  bids  me  well  beware 
With  what  intent  I  touch  that  holy  thing)." 

Leaving  the  academy  he  attended  for  three  years  the 
Grammar  School  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania, 
preparatory  to  entering  college. 


CHAPTER   III. 

1811-1815. 

College  Life. — A  True  Friend. — Youthful  Sports. — Confirmation. — Re- 
tiring yet  Courageous.— The  Juniors  and  the  Provost. — Studies. — 
Church  Observances. — Philomathean  Society. — College  Classmates. — 
Life -long  Friends. — An  Impenitent  Boy  Friend. — Public  Affairs. — 
Closing  Events  of  War  of  1812. — A  Day  of  Military  Service.— The 
Treaty  of  Ghent. — Peace  joyfully  Welcomed. — Graduated  with  Honors. 

HE  entered  upon  his  collegiate  course  when  fifteen. 
This  period  of  life,  the  period  of  feeling  and  passion, 
had  its  dangers  for  him  as  .for  most  youths.  That  he 
passed  through  it  unsullied  may  be  attributed,  among 
other  causes,  to  the  watchful  affection  of  a  young  man 
in  the  University,  who,  though  older  than  William, 
seems  to  have  been  magnetically  attracted  to  him  in 
an  ardent  and  equal  friendship  which  the  latter  always 
looked  back  upon,  with  gratitude  to  God,  as  one  of  the 
best  blessings  of  his  life.  We  have  some  recollections 
of  these  days  from  his  own  lips: 

"While  I  was  at  the  Grammar  School,  I  became  inti- 
mate with  several  of  my  schoolmates  with  whom,  for 
two  or  three  years,  I  spent  the  summer  vacation,  at  a 
Quaker  farmer's  in  the  country.  From  these  compan- 
ions I  learned  no  good,  and,  through  all  my  life,  have 
regretted  my  acquaintance  with  them.  And  here  I 


A    TRUE   FRIEND.  21 

must  make  grateful  mention  of  Mr.  Joseph  P.  Engles, 
who  was  a  tutor  in  the  college  while  I  was  in  the 
Grammar  School.  Although  seven  years  older  than 
myself,  we  became  warm  friends.  To  no  one  in  my 
youth  was  I  more  attached;  and  to  no  one  individual 
in  all  my  life,  do  I  owe  more  of  personal  religious 
influence.  He  first  became  interested  in  me,  from  see- 
ing my  danger  from  the  evil  companions  alluded  to. 
Engles  and  I  used  to  have  violent  dis- 
putes together  in  religion  and  politics,  as  he  was  a 
strict  Presbyterian,  a  covenanter,  and  a  democrat,  while 
I  was  a  stout  Episcopalian  and  a  federalist;  but  we 
often  went  to  each  other's  churches.  Engles  thought 
I  made  too  much  of  the  forms  of  religion,  and  was 
particularly  offended  at  my  wearing  a  cross  inside  my 
dress ;  it  was  a  large  silver  cross,  the  first  thing  I  ever 
had  made.  I  recollect  how  relieved  he  was,  when,  on 
asking  me  what  hymn  I  best  loved,  I  answered: 

"'I'm  not  ashamed  to  own  my  Lord, 

Or  to  defend  his  cause, 
Maintain  the  honor  of  his  word, 
The  glory  of  his  cross.'" 

In  a  portion  of  Mr.  Engles's  journal  of  this  date, 
we  find  frequent  allusions  to  his  youthful  friend.  At 
first  as  though  studying  his  character;  later  as  de- 
lighting in  his  society.  In  one  place  he  says,  "  I  have 
a  very  high  opinion  of  Muhlenberg."  In  another, 
"Muhlenberg  seems  to  have  escaped  the  gross  cor- 
ruption of  his  age."  Once  when  they  had  passed  a 


22  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

whole  evening  together,  arguing  upon  predestination 
and  kindred  subjects,  Mr.  E.,  unwilling  to  part  from 
his  companion,  prevented  him,  by  a  ruse,  from  hearing 
the  hour  cried  by  the  watchman,  and  so  kept  him  long 
past  his  usual  time  for  returning  home. 

Napoleon,  then  playing  his  wonderful  role  in  the 
drama  of  nations,  was  another  topic  of  animated  dis- 
cussion between  the  two.  Muhlenberg  always  detested 
the  character  of  the  mighty  soldier,  while  Engles  was 
blinded  to  its  enormities  by  the  glamor  of  military 
glory.  A  letter  of  rebuke  to  the  latter  on  his  gratu- 
lations  at  Bonaparte's  resumption  of  power  after  his 
escape  from  Elba,  is  curiously  illustrative,  not  only 
of  the  young  Muhlenberg's  anti-Napoleonic  sentiments, 
but  of  the  fire  underlying  his  gentleness,  and  how  he 
sometimes  manifested  it.  The  epistle  begins  without 
any  of  the  usual  terms  of  endearment,  thus, — 


"JOSEPH!  You  rejoice  at  the  present  news!  What  shall  I  say? 
One  who  professes  to  adore  the  Prince  of  peace,  and  who  has  been 
admitted  to  the  privilege  of  his  kingdom  by  the  holy  rite  of  Bap- 
tism rejoices  at  the  elevation  of  a  blood-thirsty,  a  hellish  tyrant ! 
Christendom  reposed  in  peace.  ....  The  nations  of  the  earth 

appeared  to  be  uniting  under  the  banner  of  the  Cross 

The  blessed  time  when  peace  shall  be  universal  seemed  to  be  ap- 
proaching—But alas !  again  the  monster  rises !  The  enemy  of  the 
Church,  the  proud  and  blasphemous  persecutor  of  the  saints,  the  dis- 
turber of  nations  again  appears,  and— a  Christian  rejoices !  Blessed 
Jesus,  can  it  be? 

"  Will  the  plea  of  patriotism  be  urged  as  the  cause  of  your  pres- 
ent joy?  Cursed  be  that  patriotism  which  is  kindled  by  the  view 
of  rivers  of  blood.  What !  Would  even  a  rational  being,  not  to  say 


HIS   MOTHER'S    TRUE   KNIGHT.  23 

a  Christian,  desire  the  political  interests  of  his  country  when  they 
are  to  be  purchased  by  the  tears  of  thousands  of  widows  and  orphans? 
True  patriotism  never  destroys  philanthropy.  No !  Joseph,  take 
your  Bible  and  read  the  peaceful,  the  heavenly  doctrines  of  Jesus, 

and  be  glad,  if  you  dare,  at  the  exaltation  of  Napoleon 

Until  you  can  prove  that  the  Spirit  of  God  delights  in  wars,  I  will 
not  believe  that  a  follower  of  the  Lamb  can  rejoice  in  the  present 
news." 

His  first  printed  verses,  "An  Ode  to  Spring,"  ap- 
peared at  this  time  in  the  "Portfolio,"  a  periodical  of 
the  day,  and  he  began  to  throw  off  poetical  effusions 
freely  at  the  desire  of  his  friends.  He  found  more 
pleasure  in  literary  occupations  than  in  athletic  exer- 
cises, except  it  were  walking ;  his  genial  disposition  led 
him  to  take  part  with  his  young  companions,  in  boat- 
ing, fishing,  swimming,  and  even  gunning,  but  he  did 
not  excel  in  these  sports.  Of  gunning,  a  very  few  ex- 
peditions sufficed.  The  last  time  he  went,  he  shot  a 
dove,  and  then  vowed  never  again  to  engage  in  the 
pastime.  He  was  so  dull  at  dancing-school,  that  the 
master  often  pulled  his  ears,  and  when  on  a  certain  oc- 
casion he  understood  the  direction  "turn  out  your  toes" 
to  mean  that  he  was  to  spread  those  members  within 
his  dancing-slippers,  he  was  pronounced  incapable  of 
learning.  Nevertheless,  he  much  enjoyed  the  practising 
balls,  which,  in  those  days,  were  very  innocent  things, 
always  ending  at  nine  in  the  evening.  Throughout 
these  days,  and  always,  his  heart  was  strong  in  its 
home  affections;  he  was  ever  his  widowed  mother's 
fond  and  true  knight,  and  the  loving  admirer  of  his 
only  sister.  Such  words  as  "Mary  played  well,"  or 


24  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

"Sister  looked  very  pretty  to-night,"  come  in,  from  time 
to  time,  with  his  mention  of  an  evening  entertainment. 

In  the  second  year  of  his  college  course,  he  was  con- 
firmed. The  Rev.  Jackson  Kemper  was  then  one  of 
the  assistant  ministers  of  the  united  churches  and 
a  veiy  popular  young  preacher.  He  was  popular  in  a 
good  sense  of  the  word,  for  he  was  the  means  of 
a  genuine  revival  of  religion.  Young  and  old  were 
moved  by  his  preaching,  and  among  them  William 
A.  Muhlenberg,  who  makes  frequent  allusion  to  the 
subject,  in  his  journal  of  this  period. 

Notice  being  given  of  the  confirmation  which  was  to 
take  place  in  the  approaching  Passion  Week,  he  went 
to  see  his  "beloved  minister,"  as  he  then  termed  Mr. 
Kemper,  though  without  any  personal  acquaintance 
with  him,  in  reference  to  his  acceptance  as  a  candi- 
date for  the  rite.  He  said,  in  relation  to  this:  "Over- 
coming the  extreme  diffidence  I  felt,  I  introduced  my- 
self to  him,  and  his  kind  manner  soon  put  me  so  much 
at  ease  that  I  asked  him  some  questions  on  the  sub- 
ject of  Baptismal  Regeneration,  about  which  my  mind 
had  been  perplexed.  All  I  recollect  is  that  he  assured 
me  that  regeneration  did  not  mean  a  change  of  heart 
He  invited  me  to  come  and  see  him  again,  and  thus 
began  an  acquaintance  which  lasted  with  unabated  es- 
teem and  affection  to  the  day  of  his  death.  .  .  ...  . 

"  On  Easter  Even  of  this  year  (1813),  I  was  confirmed 
at  St.  James's  Church,  in  company  with  a  hundred  and 
eighty  others,  most  of  whom  were  adults,  and  some 
quite  old  people.  Such  a  time  had  never  before  been 


THE   PROVOST.  25 

known,  in  the  church  in  Philadelphia,  and  greatly  it 
gladdened  the  heart  of  Bishop  White,  as  he  expressed 
himself  in  a  sermon  on  the  occasion.  It  was  not  the 
custom  at  that  time  in  Philadelphia,  for  any  but  com- 
municants to  kneel  at  the  prayers,  and  I  well  remember 
the  effort  it  cost  me  to  do  so,  in  the  prayers,  at  the 
preparatory  lectures,  in  our  large  square  pew,  where 
one  could  be  seen  by  every  body.  It  was  at  the  time 
of  my  confirmation,  too,  that  I  resolved  to  give  up  go- 
ing to  the  theatre,  of  which  I  had  been  rather  fond, 
considering  that  as  one  of  'the  pomps  and  vanities  of 
the  world,'  of  course  to  be  renounced;  unobjectiona- 
ble as  the  stage  then  was,  compared  with  its  present 
depravity." 

In  taking  this  step,  William  had  to  endure  some  lone- 
liness and  occasionally  a  little  raillery  from  his  com- 
panions; but  shy  and  diffident  as  he  was  in  a  high 
degree  where  duty  was  not  at  stake,  he  was  strong  in 
moral  courage  wherever  there  was  need  for  it.  An  in- 
stance of  this  which  is  not  unworthy  of  mention,  ap- 
pears in  an  episode  of  his  college  life  while  he  was  a 
junior.  There  were  unruly  and  turbulent  spirits  in 
the  University  of  Pennsylvania  in  those  times,  as  in 
other  colleges  nowadays,  and  the  majority  of  this  class 
of  juniors  found  their  sport  in  systematically  torment- 
ing a  venerable  member  of  the  faculty,  the  Provost, 
Dr.  Andrews,  to  whom  they  recited  in  several  branches. 
There  was  not  the  least  provocation  for  this  bad  be- 
havior, and  William  is  at  once  indignant.  He  does 
not  hesitate  to  call  the  conduct  of  the  boys  "shameful," 


26  WILL f AM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

and  with  three  of  the  better-minded  ones  takes  sides 
boldly  with  the  master.  The  insubordinate  ones  taunt 
Muhlenberg  and  his  allies  as  "curries,"  which  they 
take  as  a  matter  of  course.  The  contest  runs  through 
several  months,  Muhlenberg  and  his  fiiends  defeating 
the  tricks  of  the  others  against  Dr.  Andrews,  and 
standing  up  for  him  in  various  ways. 

The  matter  ended  appallingly  in  the  sudden  death 
of  the  Provost.  He  heard  the  nine  o'clock  recitations, 
one  morning,  and  at  a  quarter  past  ten  was  no  more. 
The  unruly  juniors  were  awed,  and  Muhlenberg's  af- 
fectionate heart  greatly  moved.  School  being  at  once 
dismissed  he  went  home,  and,  shutting  himself  up 
with  his  journal,  filled  four  pages  with  a  monody  on 
the  event.  These  pages  are  double-ruled  around  their 
edges,  and  filled  in,  by  his  own  hand,  with  a  broad, 
black  border.  In  his  lament  he  says :  "  How  sweet  was 
his  disposition!  How  kindly  he  labored  to  make  us 
understand  Homer,  Cicero,  Juvenal! — a  perfect  master 
of  the  classics,"  etc.,  etc. 

As  regards  his  college  studies,  Greek,  Latin,  Belles 
Lettres,  and  Natural  and  Moral  Philosophy  were  the 
most  congenial.  Mathematics  went  hard  with  him; 
nevertheless,  he  would  not  at  any  time  allow  himself 
to  be  behind  here,  in  the  recitations.  If  not  a  very 
close  student,  he  had  so  much  quickness  of  apprehen- 
sion and  so  manly  an  ambition  and  conscientiousness 
in  doing  his  duty,  that  he  was  always  well  up  in  any 
study  that  was  before  the  class. 

In  addition  to  the  regular  college  course,  he  took  les- 


"PfflLO."  27 

sons  between  hours  and  of  an  evening  in  music,  the 
piano  and  flute,  in  drawing,  elocution,  and  chemistry, 
with  botanical  and  mineralogical  expeditions  for  rec^ 
reation.  Amidst  all  this  work,  he  finds  much  fault 
with  himself  for  his  unstudious  habits:  "Lazy,  lazy! 
I  must  study  more,"  is  a  frequent  item,  of  this  date,  in 
his  diary.  In  one  place  he  adds  to  this  complaint :  "  If 
I  do  not  attain  mediocrity,  it  is  not  Nature's  fault,  for 
I  feel  able  to  learn  any  thing  I  take  in  hand."  In 
another  place  he  complains  of  the  time  he  has  to  give 
to  some  studies  (Euclid  for  instance)  not,  to  his  youth 
ful  judgment,  necessary  or  useful  for  a  clergyman,  and 
expresses  his  weariness  of  the  college  routine,  adding, 
as  though  solacing  himself  with  the  thought,  "But 
religion  is  my  delight."  We  may  well  believe  this, 
since  to  all  his  other  engagements  at  this  time,  he 
added  a  weekly  attendance  at  the  "  Prayer  Society " 
instituted  by  Mr.  Kemper,  and  an  observance  of  all 
church  days  and  church  occasions,  so  far  as  his  hours 
with  his  tutors  would  permit.  He  makes  full  notes  in 
his  diary  of  his  Sundays,  with  ordinarily,  their  three 
services,  giving  the  gist  of  the  sermons  often  with 
some  striking  criticism.  Even  at  this  early  day  he  is 
thoughtful  for  the  poor,  and  observes  with  regret  the 
small  collections  after  charity  sermons,  exclaiming  in 
one  instance,  "0  Benevolentia  Temporum,  0  Charitas 
Christianorum ! " 

He  took  an  active  part  in  the  "  Philomathean,"  a 
literary  society  still  existing,  of  which  his  class  were 
the  founders,  and  he  himself  a  first  mover  in  its  for- 


28  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

rnation  and  one  of  its  first  moderators.  This,  while 
under  seventeen,  was  the  earliest  effort  of  that  origi- 
nating and  organizing  power  which  he  possessed  so 
strongly  and  always  so  earnestly  directed  to  the  high- 
est and  noblest  ends.  In  his  journal  of  these  days, 
there  are  scattered  notices  of  "Philo."  in  her  infancy 
which  show  him  guiding  and  shaping  her  course  with 
something  of  the  Christian  wisdom,  ability,  and  tact 
which  he  brought  so  effectually  to  bear  upon  more 
important  foundations  in  riper  years.  The  following, 
among  others,  is  an  example.  The  Philomatheans  had 
asked  and  obtained  a  room  in  the  college  for  their  ex- 
clusive use;  Muhlenberg  soon  observed  that  the  mem- 
bers congregated  there  on  Sundays,  to  the  desecration 
of  the  Lord's  day.  Not  wishing  to  appear  as  acting 
in  the  matter,  he  made  a  communication  to  the  society 
over  the  signature  "Mentor  Kesidens"  with  a  motion 
which  was  carried  unanimously,  that  the  doors  of  the 
society  room  should  be  henceforth  kept  locked  on  Sun- 
day. The  society  continues  prosperous  and  useful.* 

*  On  the  occasion  of  his  eightieth  birthday,  Dr.  Muhlenberg  re- 
ceived with  great  pleasure  the  following  note  from  the  society,  to- 
gether with  the  engrossed  copy  of  the  Kesolutions  to  which  it  refers, 
and  his  reply  to  the  Philomatheans  was  one  of  the  last  letters  he 
ever  wrote : 

"UNIVERSITY  OF  PENNA,  ) 
PhUa,  Nov.  6,  1876.  I 
"KEV.  "W.  A.  MUHLENBERG,  D.D., 

"My  Dear  Sir,— By  the  same  mail,  I  have  the  pleasure  of  sending 
you  a  series  of  Resolutions,  adopted  by  the  Philomathean  Society  at 
a  recent  meeting.  'Philo.'  is  in  a  flourishing  condition.  She  has 
sixty  active  members,  and  her  library  numbers  about  2,500  volumes 


"VENITE   ADOREMUS.^  29 

Mr.  Joseph  P.  Engles  has  been  mentioned  as  the 
choice  friend  of  William  Augustus  Muhlenberg's  youth. 
There  were  several  others  to  whom  he  was  strongly  at- 
tached. In  this  connection  he  says: 

"  Besides  this  good  Presbyterian,  I  was  intimate  with 
Christian  F.  Cruse,  a  Lutheran,  with  Geo.  B.  Wood,  a 
Quaker,  and,  though  less  so,  with  James  Keating,  a 
Eoman  Catholic ;  I  ought  to  add  that  I  took  occasional 
opportunities  of  going  to  the  Koman  Church,  and  for 
several  years  made  a  point  of  attending  early  Christ- 
mas mass  in  the  old  Koman  Catholic  church  on  the 
corner  of  Sixth  and  Spruce  Streets,  Philadelphia.  '  Ve- 
nite  adoremus,  Venite  adoremus!'  how  it  rang  in  my 
ears,  and  I  can  not  tell  how  much  its  echoes  have 
had  to  do  with  the  early  Christmas  services,  in  which 
so  many  have  rejoiced  with  me  in  the  course  of  my 
ministry." 

It  is  a  testimony  alike  to  his  discrimination  and  to 

In  the  new  and  magnificent  buildings  of  the  University,  she  is  ac- 
commodated with  two  spacious  rooms  which  have  been  handsomely 
fitted  up.  The  walls  are  hung  with  photographs  of  the  senior  mem- 
bers, and  above  the  Moderator's  Desk  is  a  scroll  bearing  the  honored 
names  of  the  thirteen  gentlemen  who  in  1813  founded  the  Society. 
To  one  of  these  gentlemen  Philo.  now  expresses  her  thanks,  respect, 
and  admiration. 

"Our  college  also  is  in  a  flourishing  condition.  In  the  Classical 
and  Scientific  Departments,  she  numbers  over  three  hundred  students. 
Hoping  that  the  Resolutions  may  not  be  unacceptable,  but  may  call 
up  some  pleasant  recollections  of  college  days, 

"I  remain  respectfully  yours, 

"J.  WAEKEN  YAEDLET, 

"  Chairman  Com." 


30  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

the  fidelity  of  his  nature,  that  the  college  friendships 
here  alluded  to  (Keating's  only  excepted,  of  whom  we 
hear  no  more)  lasted  through  life.*  Of  Christian  F. 
Cruse,  he  made  the  following  entry  in  his  college  diary : 
"Christian  Frederick  Cruse  I  highly  esteem.  His 
genius  is  accompanied  with  the  greatest  modesty;  his 
manners  are  mild  and  without  the  least  offence.  In 
all  his  essays,  he  discovers  much  depth  of  thought. 
He  is  very  religious,  and  is  studying  theology  to  take 
orders  in  the  Lutheran  Church.  His  mother  is  very 
poor  and  he  is  educated  by  the  German  Society ;  never- 
theless he  has  been  always  respected  in  the  class  and 
in  the  society,  the  Philomathean.  I  think  he  will  be 
a  profound  theologian.  I  know  not  any  young  man 
for  whom  I  have  more  respect."! 

*  Mr.  Engles  died  in  1861.  A  photograph  portrait  of  him  remains, 
on  which  is  written,  below  the  likeness,  "A  friend  to  be  forgotten 
never,  A  brother  dear  in  Christ  forever  !"  And  on  the  reverse  of  the 
picture  an  inscription  thus:  "This  was  sent  to  me  by  Thomas  D. 
Engles,  son  of  my  dear  friend,  Joseph  P.  Engles,  who  died  suddenly 
in  Phila.  last  spring.  There  was  no  one  to  whose  religious  and  moral 
influence  I  was  so  much  indebted  in  the  days  of  boyhood  and  youth, 
as  to  that  of  this  excellent  Presbyterian, — We  loved  each  other  to  the 
day  of  his  death.  W.  A.  M.  St.  Luke's  Hospital,  Sept.  3,  1861." 

t  It  is  interesting  to  read  side  by  side  with  the  above,  the  following 
notice  of  Christian  Frederick  Cruse'  by  the  same  pen,  fifty  years  later. 
It  is  dated  St.  Luke's  Hospital,  Oct.  9,  1865.— "There  was  a  funeral 
last  Monday  in  this 'Chapel  which  I  can  not  forbear  to  mention.  It 
was  that  of  one  who  was  more  to  me  than  a  brother,— the  Eev.  Chris- 
tian F.  Cruse',  Doetor  in  Divinity— truly  a  Divine  Doctor— Divine  in 
his  life  as  well  as  in  his  calling.  He  was  latterly  the  Librarian  of  the 
General  Theological  Seminary,  and  a  Library  in  himself,  especially 


COLLEGE    CLASSMATES.  31 

This  sketch  is  one  of  a  series  of  acute  and  graphic 
moral  and  mental  portraitures  of  the  entire  class,  made 
in  the  last  year  of  the  course  for  the  purpose  of  refer- 
ence in  after  times.  Appended  to  each  is  his  college 
sobriquet.  Among  the  sketches,  we  find  this  of  him- 
self— "  William  Augustus  Muhlenberg,  with  as  many 
faults  as  any  of  them;  but  I  fear  he  does  not  know 
them."  His  Quaker  friend,  Geo.  B.  Wood,  he  describes 
as  "the  best  scholar  of  the  class."* 

In  addition  to  those  here  named,  there  were  several 

in  theology  and  sacred  literature  in  all  their  departments  and  in  all 
languages:  and  of  history  extensively,  ancient  and  modern;  yet  not  a 
repositary  of  mere  learning,  but  of  learning  applied  and  illuminated 

by  the  light  of  that  which  was  to  him  the  Book  of  books 

He  was  a  true  Christian  philosopher,  serene  and  patient  as  philoso- 
phy itself.  Modest,  meek,  and  reverential  in  a  saintly  degree."— 
Evangelical  Catholic  Papers,  2d  Series.  PASTOBAL  NOTES,  p.  186. 

*  This  gentleman,  Dr.  Geo.  B.  Wood,  of  Philadelphia,  alone  sur- 
vived him.  His  eminence  in  his  profession  has  justified  this  early 
promise.  He  is  well  known  through  his  "United  States  Dispensa- 
tory," his  "Therapeutics,"  and  other  valuable  text-books.  In  the 
spring  of  the  year  1876,  Dr.  Muhlenberg,  after  a  long  absence,  re- 
visited his  native  city,  as  it  proved,  for  the  last  time,  and  called  upon 
his  old  friend,  then  very  infirm.  The  writer,  who  was  present  at 
one  of  these  interviews,  subsequently  received  from  Dr.  W.  a  graceful 
note,  containing  a  handsome  contribution  towards  the  twenty  thou- 
sand ($20,000)  dollars  which  was  then  being  privately  collected  for  a 
gift  to  Dr.  Muhlenberg,  as  the  beginning  of  an  endowment  of  his 
St.  Johuland,  in  honor  of  his  eightieth  birthday — the  name  of  the 
fund  being  the  "Muhlenberg  Endowment."  In  concluding  his  favor, 
Dr.  Wood  requested  that  when  the  proper  time  came,  this  tribute  of 
his  might  be  named  to  the  friend  "whom  he  had  known,  loved,  and 
esteemed,  from  boyhood." 


32  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

among  his  college  associates  for  whom  he  entertained 
much  regard  for  the  time ;  and  others,  again,  for  whose 
welfare  he  became  deeply  concerned,  though  they  were 
not  his  particular  friends.  To  one  such,  who  needed 
it,  he  writes  an  anonymous  letter  011  Dissipation;  for 
another  he  reminds  himself  to  pray  regularly,  the  be- 
ginning, possibly,  of  that  peculiar  sympathy  for  the 
young  of  his  own  sex  which  throughout  life  distin- 
guished him. 

Some  memoranda  of  this  period  which  he  made  on 
the  death  of  a  youth  whom  he  had  once  ardently  loved, 
reveal  both  his  own  remarkable  powers  of  attraction 
and  the  character  of  much  of  his  intercourse  with  his 
boy  friends.  The  earlier  attachment  of  the  two  had 
greatly  waned  before  the  end  of  their  college  career; 
they  grew  to  differ  so  essentially  in  opinions,  morals, 
and  habits,  it  could  not  be  otherwise.  But  when  Muhl- 
enberg  heard  that  the  lad  had  come  to  an  untimely 
end, — he  died  at  seventeen,  under  very  distressing  cir- 
cumstances,— all  the  tenderness  of  his  affectionate  heart 
was  moved,  and  he  reviewed  at  length  the  incidents  of 
their  intimacy ;  largely,  it  would  appear,  to  see  whether 
he  had  done  all  he  might  for  the  other's  salvation: 

"The  amiable,  beautiful  E is  dead. 

"'There  cracked  the  cordage  of  a  noble  heart' 

I  never  will  forget  him.  One  more  generous  and  affec- 
tionate could  not  be When  I  recollect  how 

sincerely  he  was  attached  to  me,  the  thought  of  not 
having  seen  him  in  his  illness  occasions  me  much  pain. 


A    SAD   END.  33 

.  .  .  .  One  of  his  expressions  I  particularly  remem- 
ber. He  said,  'I  wish  I  were  religious,  that  you  might 
think  better  of  me,  and  that  our  friendship  might  exist 
beyond  the  present  world.'  How  often  has  he  pressed 
my  hand  with  tenderest  affection — with  that  hand  now 
frozen  in  death!  How  quickly  did  his  heart  beat  in 
unison  with  my  feelings,  on  any  occasion,  whether  of 
joy  or  grief.  ....  I  remember  he  once  told  me  he 
had  a  dream,  in  which  he  thought  the  judgment  had 
come:  that  he  was  to  enter  heaven,  but  that  I  was 
doomed  to  hell.  He  thought  he  told  the  judge  that 
either  I  must  come  up  with  him  or  he  go  down  with 
me;  but  if  that  could  not  be,  I  should  take  his  place 
and  he  mine.  I  considered  this  an  evidence  of  the 
sincerity  of  his  affection  for  me.  Again,  I  was  one 
evening  with  him  at  St.  Paul's  Church,  at  an  oratorio. 
Being  engaged  with  the  music,  I  paid  little  attention 
to  him.  Some  time  after,  he  told  me  that  the  coldness 
which  I  displayed  towards  him  that  evening  prevented 

him  from  sleeping  through  the  night I  have 

conversed  hours  with  him  upon  the  importance  of  re- 
ligion. He  listened  attentively.  I  recollect  that  he 
was  much  impressed,  for  several  days,  with  a  sermon 
on  Eepentance  which  we  heard  together.  He  said: 
'I  perceive  the  necessity  of  repentance,  but  I  also  see 
the  total  change  which  must  be  effected  in  the  dispo- 
sitions of  my  heart;  and  so  I  despair  of  ever  becom- 
ing religious.'  I  mentioned  the  omnipotency  of  God's 
grace.  He  returned,  ;I  hope  to  be  better  before  I  die.' 

If  my  prayers  have  availed  any  thing,  he 

3 


34  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

has  made  a  happy  exchange  of  worlds.  For  a  month 
past,  I  have  addressed  the  throne  of  grace  thrice  daily 
in  his  behalf. " 

The  year  1814  was  an  eventful  period  in  public 
affairs,  both  at  home  and  abroad.  In  Europe,  the  de- 
position of  the  great  Napoleon.  At  home,  the  con- 
cluding struggles  of  the  war  with  Great  Britain. 
The  thoughtful  and  Christian  mind  of  young  Muhl- 
enberg  pondered  these  events  as  they  transpired.  He 
greatly  deplored  the  contest  between  the  United  States 
and  England.  An  enlightened  patriotism  was  his  her- 
itage, and  "Our  Washington's  Birthday,"  as  often  as 
the  year  brought  it  round,  was  observed  with  honor 
and  joy  to  the  end  of  his  days:  but  war  was  ab- 
horrent to  him,  and  his  mind  was  fully  impressed 
that  the  existing  one  was  unnecessary.  He  had  a 
strong  bias  towards  the  Quaker  doctrine  of  non-re- 
sistance, and  in  order  to  confirm  himself  in  this  theory, 
]if  tenable,  or  to  correct  his  prepossessions  if  he  were 
wrong,  he  wrote  an  essay  on  the  subject,  and  per- 
suaded a  young  friend,  of  that  time,  whom  he  dearly 
loved,  Benjamin  Kush  Rhees,  to  say  in  a  similar  manner 
all  that  he  could  on  the  opposite  side.  This  was  his 
wont  in  any  doubtful  matter,  and  no  one  could  yield 
a  point  with  more  candor  and  grace  than  himself, 
where  reason  demanded  it.  In  the  present  case,  all 
his  pains  did  not  settle  the  vexed  question.  Non-re- 
sistance and  public  protection  could  not  be  made  com- 
patible. Feeling  and  judgment  remained  at  issue. 

On  the  capture  of  the  capital  by  the  British  under 


CARRYING    SODS   FOR    THE   FORTS.  35 

General  Ross,  on  the  24th  of  August,  the  youth  of  all 
the  principal  cities  sprang  to  arms  and  there  was  a 
possibility  that  Muhlenberg  might  himself  be  forced 
into  the  conflict.  In  his  diary  of  this  date,  he  says: 
"All  is  military.  Companies  everywhere  forming.  I 
am  just  eighteen — what  ought  I  to  do?"  On  Sept.  13, 
he  wrote :  "The  British  have  been  repulsed  at  Baltimore : 
General  Ross  killed.  Querie — Is  it  Christian-like  to  re- 
joice in  the  death  of  an  enemy?  New  Testament  says, 
1  Love  your  enemies. ' ' 

Philadelphia  was  ordered  to  strengthen  her  defences, 
and  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  offered  its  services 
to  the  committee  charged  with  the  business.  On  Sept. 
23,  Muhlenberg  makes  this  entry:  "The  classes  of 
the  college  worked  to-day  at  the  fortifications.  I  car- 
ried sods.  Hard  work.  I  put  a  handkerchief  over  my 
shoulders  and  tied  it  to  the  handle  of  the  barrow.  We 
ate  our  dinners  out  like  workmen.  We  worked  by 
ourselves  in  finishing  a  defence  at  the  entrance  of 
the  forts." 

The  approach  of  peace  filled  his  soul  with  almost 
rapturous  thanksgiving.  Those  were  not  the  days  of 
cable  or  steamer,  and  the  signing  of  the  preliminaries 
by  the  commissioners  at  Ghent  on  the  24th  of  Decem- 
ber, 1814,  was  not  known  in  the  United  States  until 
seven  weeks  after.  A  frigate  brought  the  good  tid- 
ings to  Philadelphia  on  Sunday,  Feb.  12,  1815.  On 
this  date,  William  writes  in  his  diary:  "After  morn- 
ing service,  I  heard  the  joyous  news  of  peace,  that  a 
treaty  has  been  concluded  and  signed  by  the  Prince 


36  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

Regent — waits  only  for  ratification  by  the  President. 
The  whole  city  seems  in  a  tumult  of  joy.  Every  body 
congratulates  whom  he  meets.  But  to  God — to  God 
alone — be  the  honor  and  glory  and  praise  of  this  unmer- 
ited mercy,  this  greatest  of  human  blessings.  Mamma 
was  overcome  with  the  unexpected  joy,  and  burst  into 
tears.  How  shall  we  thank  thee,  0  God!  Let  thy 
Church  sing  anthems  aloud  to  thy  name." 

The  next  day,  he  writes:  "I  can  think  of  nothing 
but  the  peace;"  and  later:  "Though  it  is  not  known 
whether  the  President  will  ratify  the  treaty,  the  city, 
this  evening,  is  brilliantly  illuminated.  I  filled  the 
panes  of  my  windows  with  colored  transparent  paper, 
and  put  a  candle  behind  each.  They  had  the  appear- 
ance of  colored  lamps  at  a  distance." 

His  college  course  ended  with  the  close  of  the  year 
1814.  The  commencement  took  place  on  the  10th  of 
January,  1815,  when  he  received  his  degree  of  A.B., 
with  what  are  called  "  third  honors " ;  Christian  F.  Cruse 
receiving  the  first,  and  George  B.  Wood  the  second, 
and  these  two  friends  were  with  himself  the  first  mod- 
erators of  the  Philomatheaii  Society. 

He  had  eagerly  anticipated  his  liberation  from  col- 
lege, more  especially  that  he  might  be  free  to  pursue 
those  studies  only  in  which  he  could  take  delight ;  but 
it  was  not  in  his  nature  to  terminate  the  associations 
of  those  days  without  emotion.  With  a  tender  sadness, 
he  indulged  at  some  length  in  a  retrospect  of  his  uni- 
versity life,  even  the  disagreeables  of  which  he  then 
found  had  their  pleasant  side;  characteristically  add- 


LEAVING    COLLEGE.  37 

ing:  "Now,  1  almost  love  Euclid" — "I  am  even  at- 
tached to  poor -,"  an  unfortunate  youth  whom  every 

body  disliked.  One  morning,  a  day  or  two  later,  he 
notes  that  he  went  to  the  chapel  and  "  listened  at  the 
door,  to  the  old  prayers."  He  is  able  to  say  as  this 
chapter  of  his  life  closes,  "I  have  never  had  any  quar- 
rel with  any  one,  and  I  leave  college  on  good  terms 
with  each  person  in  it." 


CHAPTER   IV. 

1815-1820. 

Study  of  Theology.— Interview  with  Bishop  White. — The  Theological 
Seminary  Question. — Earnest  Preparation. — First  Communion. — Self- 
searching  Questions  at  Close  of  Year. — Reforming  the  Organ  Loft. — 
Office  of  Clerk  Abolished. — Removal  to  Arch  St.— A  Prayer  in  Every 
Room. — Founded  a  Church  in  Huntingdon  Co. — Proposed  Visit  to 
Europe  Abandoned. — Ordained  Deacon. — Bishop  White's  Assistant. — 
Extreme  Diffidence  at  Beginning  of  Ministry. — Bishop  White's  Meek- 
ness.—Anecdotes. — The  Sunday  Schools.— Church  Music. — An  Aux- 
iliary Bible  Society. — Visiting  Among  the  Poor. — Ordained  Priest. — • 
Accepts  a  Call  to  St.  James's,  Lancaster. — Letter  from  Bishop  White. 

NOT  more  than  ten  days  passed,  after  Mr.  Muhlen- 
berg's  graduation,  before  he  called  upon  Bishop  White 
in  reference  to  his  study  of  theology.  The  bishop  gave 
him  a  very  cordial  welcome,  telling  him  he  had  an 
hereditary  right  to  the  sacred  office,  through  his  great- 
grandfather, Dr.  Henry  Melchior  Muhlenberg,  whom, 
though  a  Lutheran,  he  said  he  venerated  as  an  elder 
brother  in  the  ministry.  Bishop  White  was  fond  of 
anecdotes,  and  entertained  the  young  candidate  a 
while  with  pleasant  stories  of  his  great-uncle,  Gen- 
eral Peter  Muhlenberg,  who  had  been  ordained  in 
England  by.  the  bishop  of  London  at  the  same  time 
with  himself. 

As  to  his  theological  curriculum,  the  bishop  referred 


THEOLOGICAL    STUDIES.  39 

him  to  the  course  prescribed  by  the  bishops  for  candi- 
dates for  orders,  advising  him  to  begin  with  reading 
Paley's  Evidences  of  Christianity,  to  which  succeeded 
Butler's  Analogy,  Stackhouse's  History  of  the  Bible, 
and  'Adam  Clarke's  Commentary,  the  last  then  a  new 
work,  from  which,  as  from  the  other  authors  named, 
Mr.  Muhlenberg  and  two  fellow  students  recited  regu- 
larly to  Mr.  Kemper.  The  young  men  also  met  once 
a  fortnight  in  the  bishop's  study,  to  read  essays  of 
their  own  on  subjects  chosen  by  the  bishop. 

It  was  not  until  a  year  or  two  later  than  the  time  of 
which  we  are  speaking,  that  the  formation  of  a  Theo- 
logical Seminary  came  seriously  under  consideration. 
The  subject  then  awakened  much  interesting  discus- 
sion, particularly  on  the  question,  whether  a  large  gen- 
eral institution,  or  a  multiplication  of  smaller  schools, 
were  the  more  desirable,  and  one  of  Mr.  Muhlenberg's 
earliest  writings  on  a  distinctively  church  matter,  was 
a  paper  on  this  point,  which  he  delivered  before  the 
bishop  at  a  meeting  of  the  Theological  Society  in  1817. 
The  manuscript  remains.  It  is  a  clear,  forcible,  but 
youthfully  eager  argument  for  a  large  General  Insti- 
tution, or  Theological  University,  as  he  would  have  had 
it,  differing  in  this  from  his  revered  church -father, 
Bishop  White,  who  expressed  his  preference  for  the 
establishment  of  local  or  diocesan  seminaries.* 

*  The  following  letter  from  Archbishop  Seeker  to  the  Kev.  Mr. 
Peters  of  Christ  Church,  Philadelphia,  referring  to  the  foundation  of 
the  first  colleges  under  Episcopal  auspices  in  colonial  times,  is  in- 
teresting in  this  connection.  It  was  originally  contributed  by  Dr. 


40  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS   MUHLENBERG. 

Mr.  Muhlenberg,  in  his  preparation  for  the  ministry, 
had  other  training  than  that  of  books.  He  constantly 

Muhlenberg  to  one  of  the  monthly  numbers  of  his  "Journal  of  the 
Institute,"  from  an  autograph  in  his  possession.  "Dr.  Smith,"  the 
bearer  of  this  epistle  was  the  author  of  the  Preface  to  the  American 
Book  of  Common  Prayer. 

"GooD  ME.  PETERS: — I  received  and  read  your  letter  of  the  22d 
October,  with  great  pleasure.  But  I  have  had  the  gout  almost  if  not 
quite  ever  since,  which  hath  attacked  not  only  my  feet,  but  my  hands 
in  such  a  manner,  that  for  a  long  time  I  was  not  able  to  write  so  much 
as  my  name,  and  now  I  can  write  but  very  little  without  doing  myself 
harm.  However  I  can  not  let  Dr.  Smith  go,  without  sending  you  a 
line  by  him.  Providence  hath  blessed  our  endeavors  here  for  the 
benefit  of  his  college  much  beyond  my  expectation.  And  indeed  his 
abilities  and  diligence  have  been  the  chief  instruments  of  the  success. 
Dissenters  have  contributed  laudably;  but  the  members  of  the  Church 
of  England,  and  particularly  the  clergy,  have  been  proportionably  far 
more  liberal.  Doubtless  they  were  induced  to  it  by  the  allegation  in 
the  brief,  that  this  seminary  and  that  of  New  York  would  be  ex- 
tremely useful  in  educating  missionaries  to  serve  the  Society  for 
Propagating  the  Gospel.  And  therefore  I  hope  the  Trustees  of  the 
College  of  Philadelphia  will  be  careful  to  make  provision,  that  all 
such  as  are  designed  for  clergymen  of  our  Church  shall  be  instructed 
by  a  Professor  of  Divinity  who  is  a  member  of  our  Church,  which 
may  surely  be  done  without  giving  any  offence  to  persons  of  other 
denominations:  a  fault  that  should,  by  all  means,,  be  studiously 
avoided:  as  I  doubt  not  but  through  your  prudence  it  may  and  will. 
And  with  due  precaution  the  thing  is  necessary  to  be  done.  My  hand 
admonishes  me  that  I  have  gone  my  length.  I  have  many  things  to 
say  to  you;  but  must  postpone  them  till  we  meet,  if  it  please  God  to 
give  us  life  and  health  for  it.  I  have  heard  within  these  few  days  that 
you  have  been  very  ill.  May  the  Father  of  Mercies  preserve  you  for 
the  good  of  his  Church.  I  am  with  very  great  esteem, 

"Your  loving  brother, 

"Lambeth,  April  13,  1764."  «THO.  CANT. 


TRAINING    FOR    THE    MINISTRY.  41 

accompanied  Mr.  Kemper  in  his  visits  to  the  sick  and 
poor  of  the  city,  and  seems  to  have  made  very  diligent 
use  of  such  opportunities  of  improvement,  recording  in 
his  diary  the  most  instructive  of  these  experiences. 
"Students  of  divinity,"  he  writes,  "ought  to  be  ac- 
quainted with  such  scenes.  Mr.  K.  told  me  he  had 
never  been  in  a  sick-room  before  he  was  called  to  visit 
one  as  a  clergyman."  With  the  same  earnestness  of 
purpose  he  now  gave  more  "serious  attention  to  music," 
not  for  an  amusement,  but  that  he  might  "be  able  to  do 
something  towards  making  the  services  of  the  church 
more  elevating  to  the  pious,  and  more  impressive  to  the 
minds  of  the  thoughtless."  All  his  powers  seemed  bent 
towards  fitting  himself  for  the  high  office  at  which  he 
aimed.  "Do  I  indeed  hope  one  day  to  preach  the  Gos- 
pel of  salvation,"  he  writes ;  "  0  God,  if  that  be  thy  will, 
sanctify  my  whole  heart  for  the  work ! " 

It  was  not  until  now,  Easter,  1815,  in  his  nineteenth 
year,  and  two  years  after  his  confirmation,  that  he  be- 
came a  communicant.  No  reason  appears  for  this  long 
postponement  of  his  admission  to  the  Lord's  Table ;  but 
throughout  his  ministry  he  was  wont  to  advise  an  in- 
terval between  Confirmation  and  the  partaking  of  the 
Holy  Communion,  at  least  for  young  persons,  often 
saying  in  this  connection,  "One  step  at  a  time."  Ha- 
bitually, from  childhood,  he  remained  to  witness  the 
celebration  of  the  sacrament,  and  his  own  experience 
led  him  to  recommend  this  practice  to  non-communi- 
cants of  whatever  age,  and  particularly  to  the  young, 
as  a  means  of  edification  and  preparation.  He  con- 


42  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

eludes  the  record  of  his  own  first  communion  with 
these  simple  words:  "0  Jesus,  grant  that  nothing  in 
my  future  life  may  disagree  with  what  I  have  done 
to-day." 

The  last  pages  of  his  journal  for  this  year  illustrate 
strongly  his  intense  reality  and  that  holy  strictness 
with  himself  which  characterized  him  always.  De- 
signed simply  for  his  own  eye,  and  only  preserved  to 
be  used  as  tests  and  waymarks  whereby  to  try  him- 
self in  future  years,  it  would  not  be  proper  to  give 
more  than  a  brief  extract,  by  way  of  example,  as  to 
the  manner  in  which  he  habitually  wound  up  each 
closing  year;  the  form  of  the  exercise  adapted  of 
course,  as  time  went  on,  to  his  riper  experience  and 
wider  responsibilities. 

The  paper  is  dated  "Tuesday,  Dec.  31,  1815,"  and 
reads : 

"The  end  of  another  year.  How  much  better  and 
wiser  have  I  grown  since  the  last  return  of  this  sea- 
son? Come,  my  soul,  let  us  enter  upon  the  exam- 
ination— 

"Oh  Almighty  God,  assist  me  with  thy  grace  while  I 
endeavor  to  remember  the  multitude  of  my  past  follies 
and  sins.  Shine  into  my  heart,  that  my  secret  wick- 
ednesses may  be  brought  to  light.  Enable  me  to  keep 
sacredly  the  resolutions  which  I  shall  make,  if  they  be 
agreeable  to  thy  holy  will.  Oh  let  them  not  be  as 
those  which  I  have  formerly  made.  This  I  beg  for 
Jesus  Christ's  sake. 

"Have  I  grown  in  grace? 


SELF-SCRUTINY.  43 

"I  have  been  admitted  to  the  altar  this  year,  and 
have  frequented  it;  but  I  often  fear  that  I  have  been 
an  unworthy  recipient.  I  am  thoroughly  convinced 
that  my  improvement  in  holiness  has  not  been  so 
much  as  it  should  have  been,  considering  my  advan- 
tages— But,  to  answer  my  question,  I  must  propose 
others  to  myself. 

"Do  I  diligently  read  the  Holy  Scriptures? 

"No. 

"Do  I  habitually  revere  my  mother? 

"No. 

"Do  I  keep  continual  watch  upon  my  lips? 

"No!  But,  oh  thou  Searcher  of  hearts,  have  I  not 
made  some  advancement  in  this  duty? 

"Have  I  respected  in  all  things  the  requisitions  and 
ordinances  of  the  Church  ? 

"I  have  endeavored  to  be  obedient. 

"Have  I  properly  observed  the  Sabbath  and  Holy 
Days  ? 

"What  shall  I  answer?  The  world  would  say,  'Tes' 
for  me — but,  oh  God,  thou  knowest  the  secrets  of  the 
heart,  to  thee  I  must  say — lNo.' 

"Have  I  been  industrious  in  my  studies  for  the 
ministry  ? 

"Oh  here  I  have  been  shamefully  neglectful — Lord 
Jesus,  take  from  me  my  indolent  disposition ! 

"Do  I  indulge  myself  in  sinful  thoughts? 

"  Lord,  I  thank  thee  that  thy  Spirit  has  often — very 
often — preserved  me  from  pollution.  Yet,  0  God,  hear 
the  intercessions  of  my  Redeemer ! 


44  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

"Have  my  good  or  charitable  actions  been  done  with 
a  view  to  the  glory  of  God? 

"A  few. 

"Do  I  ever  think  of  trusting  to  my  own  works  for 
salvation  ? 

"Glory  be  to  thee,  for  thy  Spirit  hath  taught  me 
better ! 

"Am  I  constant  in  prayer  for  grace  and  spiritual 
blessings  ? 

"I  fear  the  coldness,  not  the  unfrequency,  of  my  de- 
votions will  be  charged  against  me. 

"Are  God  and  holy  things  often  in  my  thoughts? 

"Yes;  but  will  not  my  condemnation  be  increased 
by  the  consideration  that  I  have  sinned  against  such 
great  light." 

Then  follow  earnest  supplications  and  resolutions  in 
view  of  the  new  year. 

From  boyhood  to  his  life's  end,  William  Augustus 
Muhlenberg's  evangelical  faith  and  great  heart  of  love 
drew  him  in  Christian  brotherliness  towards  believers 
of  every  name,  and  his  activity  and  candor  led  him 
to  know  and  to  appreciate  what  was  being  done  in  the 
great  mission  of  the  Gospel  to  mankind  by  the  relig- 
ious bodies  around  him;  but  he  was  always  unfalter- 
ingly and  zealously  attached  to  his  own  communion. 
His  youthful  aspirations  breathe  ardent  desires  for  her 
advancement,  and  for  her  adornment  with  every  thing 
conducive  to  the  beauty  and  interest  of  the  worship. 
Commenting,  in  his  diary,  on  the  remarkable  revival 
of  religion  under  Mr.  Kemper,  which  has  been  named, 


REFORMING    THE    ORGAN  LOFT.  45 

he  adds:  "Oh!  that  it  may  increase  more  and  more, 
until  our  church  shines  forth  in  her  primitive  splendor; 
then  will  all  see  her  excellence."  Again:  "I  count  it 
one  of  my  greatest  Christian  blessings  that  I  am  in 
communion  with  a  church  that  has  no  other  foundation 
than  the  apostles  and  prophets,  that  preserves  in  sim- 
plicity the  primitive  orders,  and  is  descended  of  a 
mother  who  is  justly  styled  the  Pride  of  Christendom ! " 
This  youthful  zeal  combined  with  other  qualities  of  his 
mind  to  make  him,  from  the  first,  something  of  a  re- 
former, an  instance  of  which  occurs  at  the  very  outset 
of  his  course  as  a  student  for  the  ministry,  when  he 
brought  about,  somewhat  amusingly,  the  abolition  of 
the  office  of  parish  clerk,  which  at  that  time,  both  in 
England  and  America,  was  a  very  ungainly  concomi- 
tant of  public  worship. 

St.  James's  Philadelphia,  was  then  the  church  of  his 
affections.  There  he  had  his  first  class  in  Sunday 
school,  and  that  school  was  one  of  the  first  in  the 
country.  There,  too,  he  had  his  first  singing  boys, 
having,  at  the  request  of  Bishop  White,  taken  the 
direction  of  the  music.  He  found  rather  a  bad  set 
in  possession  of  the  "organ  loft,"  and  it  was  on  his 
reporting  their  ill-behavior  to  the  bishop,  who  was 
also  rector,  that  he  received  full  power  to  effect  a 
reform. 

The  clerk,  who  had  hitherto  been  supreme,  was,  natu- 
rally, very  jealous  of  Mr.  Muhlenberg's  interference,  and 
resisted  it.  At  the  practisings,  as  a  first  step  in  refor- 
mation, it  was  arranged  that  this  functionary  should 


46  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

simply  lead  the  bass :  but  when  Sunday  morning  came, 
he  took  his  place  at  the  centre  desk  and  sang  out  as 
precentor  as  heretofore,  the  organist  and  he  understand- 
ing one  another,  for  they  were  equally  opposed  to  the 
"  revolution,"  as  they  deemed  it.  As  long  as  the  clerk 
did  his  old  part  of  leading  the  responses,  and  giving 
out  the  psalm,  it  was  impossible  to  keep  him  in  the 
necessary  subordination;  Mr.  Muhlenberg  stated  this 
difficulty  to  the  bishop,  who  at  once  threw  himself 
into  his  young  brother's  plans.  Indeed  he  was  very 
glad  of  such  co-operation  in  a  reform  which  was  be- 
yond his  own  power;  for  with  regard  to  the  organist 
and  singers,  the  good  bishop  had  often  said,  "  Forty 
years  long  was  I  grieved  with  this  generation;"  he 
immediately  said  he  would  dispense  with  the  clerk's 
leading  the  responses,  and  would  give  out  the  psalm 
himself.  He,  at  the  same  time,  furnished  Mr.  Muhl- 
enberg with  a  written  commission,  as  warrant  for 
his  action  to  the  clerk.  On  the  strength  of  this, 
Mr.  Muhlenberg  went  the  next  Saturday  afternoon  to 
the  organ  gallery,  and,  assisted  by  his  brother,  chopped 
away  the  clerk's  desk,  and  sewed  together  the  cur- 
tains in  front  of  it,  thereby  reducing  the  clerk  to 
the  level  of  the  other  singers.  The  amazement  of 
the  poor  man  on  Sunday  morning,  at  finding  himself 
thus  disposed  of  may  be  imagined.  And  who  now 
would  give  out  the  metre  psalm  ?  To  the  surprise  of 
the  congregation  as  well  as  of  the  clerk,  the  bishop,  who 
officiated  that  morning,  did  it  himself;  and  thencefor- 
ward the  rector  always  gave  out  the  metre  psalm  in 


A    THANKFUL    HEART.  47 

St.  James's,  and  soon  after  in  Christ  Church  and  St. 
Peter's  "also.* 

The  removal  of  the  family,  at  this  time,  to  a  house 
of  Mrs.  Muhlenberg' s  in  Arch  Street,  seems  to  have 
been  an  event  of  some  importance  in  the  life  of  the 
young  student.  Their  residence  on  the  corner  of  Mar- 
ket Street  had  become  unpleasant  from  the  numerous 
horses  and  wagons  congregating  there,  and  with  the 
joyous,  loving  thankfulness,  which  was  so  strong  in 
him,  he  makes  much  of  the  grateful  change  of  neigh- 
borhood, and  still  more  of  his  kind  mother's  care  and 
pains  in  fitting  up  a  particular  room  for  his  use  as  a 
study, — his  first  study, — pouring  out  his  heart  in  a  trib- 
ute of  filial  gratitude  and  affection.  Ten  years  later, 
we  have  incidentally  another  glance  of  his  inner  life,  in 
connection  with  this  house.  Philadelphia  was  then  no 
longer  his  home;  but  having  occasion  to  pass  through 

*  About  twenty-five  years  ago,  the  writer  happening  to  be  in  Phila- 
delphia with  Dr.  Muhlenberg  and  his  sister,  they  paid  a  visit  to  old 
St.  James's,  when  Dr.  Muhlenberg  told  this  story,  merrily  pointing 
out  the  scene  of  his  exploit.  He  had  a  further  anecdote  touching  the 
office  of  clerk,  which,  though  the  occurrence  is  later,  is  in  place  here. 
"Soon  after  my  ordination,"  he  said,  "being  in  New  York,  accom- 
panying Bishop  White  on  his  way  to  Hartford  for  the  consecration  of 
Bishop  Brownell,  at  an  evening  party  at  my  sister's,  I  asked  Bishop 
Hobart  how  he,  with  his  church  views,  could  allow  a  layman,  every 
Sunday,  in  his  presence,  to  stand  up  and  exhort  the  people.  He 
asked  me  what  I  meant.  I  replied,  '  The  clerk  giving  out  the  psalm 
with  the  call  to  " sing  to  the  praise  and  glory  of  God."  '  He  laughed, 
and  I  know  that  not  long  after  the  practice  was  abolished  in  New 
York  also." 


48  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

the  city,  he  revisited  the  Arch-Street  Mansion,  and  talk- 
ing with  himself  in  his  journal,  of  its  memories  and 
associations,  he  adds:  "How  well  I  recollect  coming 
here  alone  after  church  one  Sunday  afternoon, — -just 
before  we  moved  in, — I  offered  a  prayer  in  every  room ; 
nor  have  those  prayers  been  wholly  unanswered." 

In  the  second  year  of  his  divinity  studies,  by  a  reso- 
lution of  the  "  Episcopal  Society  for  the  Advancement 
of  Christianity  in  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,"  it  was 
required  that  candidates  for  orders  should  read  service 
as  frequently  as  possible  in  the  vacant  churches  of  the 
neighborhood.  Mr.  Muhlenberg  hailed  his  first  exer- 
cise of  this  kind  with  lively  gratification.  From  his 
earliest  years,  the  goal  of  his  ambition  was,  to  be  a 
minister,  and  this  was  a  tangible  step  towards  it.  He 
writes,  "Sunday,  June,  1816, — This  is  the  first  time 
I  have  been  invested  with  any  spiritual  office.  I  read 
a  sermon,  from  Gisborne,  on  the  Love  of  God,  to  a  con- 
gregation at  Radnor  Church."  In  the  month  of  Au- 
gust following,  having  a  license  from  Bishop  White, 
he  went  to  Huntingdon  County,  Pennsylvania,  and  re- 
mained there  over  six  weeks,  founding  a  church  in  the 
town  of  Huntingdon,  in  that  county.  He  gained  the 
affections  of  the  people  and  was  treated  with  marked 
kindness.  "  I  felt  quite  like  a  clergyman,"  he  adds,  in 
noting  the  above  facts. 

A  further  object  of  interest  with  him,  was  the  forma- 
tion of  an  auxiliary  Bible  society,  composed  chiefly 
of  young  men,  Mr.  Muhlenberg  being  a  manager,  and, 
it  would  seem,  treasurer.  Bishop  White  was  the  presi- 


BISHOP   WHITE'S  ASSISTANT.  49 

dent  of  the  parent  society, — the  first  Bible  society  in 
this  country. 

His  theological  course  was  drawing  to  a  close,  and 
new  plans  were  to  be  formed.  It  had  always  been  his 
intention,  seconded  by  his  mother's  wishes,  to  spend 
some  time  in  Europe,  for  the  benefit  of  travel  and  the 
acquisition  of  the  German  and  French  languages,  par- 
ticularly the  former,  of  which,  on  account  of  his  an- 
cestry, he  was  naturally  unwilling  to  be  ignorant.  He 
longed  especially  to  visit  the  cathedrals  of  the  old 
world,  St.  Paul's  having  been  one  of  the  visions  of  his 
boyhood.  He  mentioned  to  Bishop  White  his  purpose 
to  go  abroad  for  a  time  and  asked  him  whether  it  ought 
to  be  before  his  ordination  or  after.  The  Bishop  told 
him  it  should  by  all  means  be  before;  but  then  went 
on  to  say  he  had  been  hoping  his  ordination  would  take 
place  speedily,  since  the  vestry,  for  some  time  past,  had 
wished  to  appoint  a  young  man  to  assist  him  in  the 
parochial  duties  of  the  rectorship,  and  he  had  been 
thinking  of  him  for  the  place.  Bishop  White's  assist- 
ant !  He  was  overwhelmed  at  the  mention  of  so  great 
an  honor.  There  was  not  a  moment's  hesitation.  The 
thought  of  going  to  Europe  vanished  at  once,  and  he 
hastened  home  to  his  mother  with  the  good  news,  who 
was  no  less  filled  with  joy  than  himself.  Mrs.  Muhlen- 
berg,  had,  a  little  before  this,  become  a  communicant 
of  the  Episcopal  Church,  attributing  her  revived  inter- 
est in  religion  to  Mr.  Kemper's  preaching,  and  not  less, 
perhaps,  to  the  influence  of  her  eldest  son.  She  had 
been  confirmed  in  the  Lutheran  Church,  in  her  youth, 
4 


50  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

and  the  rite,  in  accordance  with  Bishop  White's  prac- 
tice, was  not  repeated.*  It  is  a  curious  fact  that  Bishop 
White  himself  was  never  confirmed.  \ 

Mr.  Muhlenberg  now  prepared  himself,  with  double 
diligence,  for  deacon's  orders,  which  he  received  at  the 
earliest  age  permitted  by  the  church.  He  attained  his 
twenty-first  year  on  the  16th  of  September,  1817,  and 
two  days  after,  September  18th,  it  being  the  sixteenth 
Sunday  after  Trinity,  he  was  ordained  by  Bishop  White, 
in  St.  Peter's  Church,  in  company  with  Mr.  Kichard  M. 
Mason,  formerly  one  of  his  classmates  in  Dr.  Aber- 
crombie's  academy.  On  the  afternoon  of  that  day,  he 
preached  his  first  sermon  in  Christ  Church,  from  the 
text,  "Pray  without  ceasing."  He  preached  twice 
the  following  Sunday,  and  soon  after  was  elected 
by  the  vestry  as  "assistant,  or  chaplain,  to  the  rec- 
tor of  Christ  Church,  St.  Peter's  and  St.  James's, 
i.  e.,  to  Bishop  White." 

*  On  this  point,  Dr.  Muhlenberg  said:  "Bishop  White,  when  I  was 
with  him,  would  not  repeat  the  confirmation  of  persons  coming  into 
our  church  who  had  been  confirmed  in  the  Lutheran  Church.  He 
spoke  of  those  who  held  to  the  necessity  of  doing  so,  and  who  nulli- 
fied all  non-Episcopal  ordination,  as  New  Lights." — Evangelical  Catholic 
Papers,  First  Series,  note  to  p.  362. 

t  In  the  Evangelical  Catholic  of  Oct.,  1852,  Dr.  Muhlenberg,  after 
mentioning  some  opposite  opinions  on  this  point,  in  two  of  the  peri- 
odicals of  the  time,  says:  "As  neither  has  positive  information  in  the 
case,  and  we  happen  to  have,  we  may  as  well  state  the  fact.  We  recol- 
lect distinctly  Bishop  White's  telling  us  that  he  was  never  confirmed, 
and  his  adding,  moreover,  that  the  English  bishops  were  not  in  the 
practice  of  confirming  those  who  came  over  from  this  country  for 
ordination." 


EXTREME   DIFFIDENCE.  j>l 

The  venerable  bishop  and  his  youthful  chaplain  were 
well  suited  to  each  other.  Mr.  Muhlenberg  complained 
in  these  days  of  an  "unconquerable  timidity"  in  the 
exercise  of  his  public  duties,  rather  it  was  that  delicate 
sensibility  and  retiring  shyness,  which,  through  life, 
lent  so  great  a  charm  to  his  originality  and  indepen- 
dence of  mind.  But  this  grace  was  sometimes  a  little 
troublesome  to  its  possessor,  particularly  in  the  earlier 
part  of  his  ministry.  A  tradition  has  come  down 
(through  the  family  concerned  in  the  circumstances) 
of  his  exceeding  diffidence  when  called  upon  for  the 
first  time  to  baptize  an  infant.  It  was  in  St.  Peter's 
Church,  a  day  or  two  after  his  ordination.  His  coun- 
tenance suffused,  his  whole  manner  became  embar- 
rassed, and  he  earnestly  requested  Bishop  White,  who 
was  present,  to  administer  the  rite  for  him.  But  the 
good  bishop  would  have  his  young  brother  make  a 
beginning,  and  did  not  yield. 

A  story  of  another  kind  is  told  of  the  first  confirma- 
tion which  he  attended  as  bishop's  chaplain.  While 
the  right  reverend  father  was  "laying  hands"  on  a 
chancelful  of  young  people,  an  excited  lady  rushed 
up,  exclaiming  in  a  loud  whisper,  "  Mr.  Muhlenberg ! 
Mr.  Muhlenberg !  He  said  she  !  the  bishop  said  she  I  " 
"  Move  him  to  the  end  of  the  row,"  was  the  quiet 
fejoinder.  The  bishop  had  made  a  mistake  in  the 
gender  of  the  catechumen,  the  lady's  son,  but  by  this 
ready  expedient  all  was  made  right  when  the  round 
of  the  chancel  was  completed. 

Bishop  White  was  himself  a  pattern  of  saintly  hu- 


52  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

mility,  instances  of  which  Mr.  Muhlenberg  took  pleas- 
ure in  relating.  One  of  them  is  in  point  here.  On  the 
first  Sunday  of  his  officiating  as  assistant,  the  bishop 
preached  in  the  morning,  and  he  read  prayers,  which 
latter  service  was  of  course  understood  to  be  espe- 
cially the  deacon's  office.  In  the  afternoon  when  Mr. 
Muhlenberg  was  to  preach,  the  bishop  put  on  the 
surplice  to  read  prayers.  Mr.  M.  reminded  him,  that 
to  read  prayers  was  his  duty  as  the  assistant.  The 
bishop  replied,  "You  read  for  me  this  morning,  and  I 
read  for  you  this  afternoon."  The  young  deacon  remon- 
strated, begging  him  for  appearance'  sake  in  the  eyes 
of  the  congregation  to  allow  him  to  take  his  place  in 
the  desk ;  but  he  would  not,  and  walked  out  of  the  ves- 
try saying  pleasantly,  "Turn  about  is  all  fair."  "Turn 
about!"  said  Mr.  Muhlenberg,  in  telling  the  story — 
"turn  about  between  the  Patriarch  of  the  Church,  then 
past  seventy,  and  a  boy  honored  with  the  appointment 
of  chaplain  to  him !  "  The  vestry  very  naturally  object- 
ed to  this  arrangement,  saying  that  the  assistant  ought 
always  to  read  prayers,  arid  laughing  as  at  "Bishop 
Muhlenberg  and  Mr.  White"  but  the  bishop  replied  that 
he  was  quite  strong  enough  for  the  duty  of  reading 
prayers,  which  he  by  no  means  considered  an  inferior 
one.  Eventually,  however,  he  yielded  to  what  was 
thought  right  in  the  matter.  On  another  occasion  the 
bishop  apologized  to  Mr.  Muhlenberg  for  asking  Bishop 
Moore,  then  on  a  visit  to  him,  to  preach  in  his  turn. 
The  good  bishop  habitually  avoided  speaking  in  the 
first  person  in  his  sermons  and  addresses,  and  to  avoid 


AVERSION   TO   HIGH  PULPITS.  53 

an  "  ego  "  would  sometimes  use  so  much  circumlocution 
as  to  impair  the  clearness  of  a  sentence.  One  more  an- 
ecdote in  this  connection  is  worth  repeating.  One  day 
when  Mr.  Muhlenberg  was  in  his  company,  a  third  per- 
son entered  and  related  at  length  a  story  of  shameful 
wrong-doing  on  the  part  of  a  clergyman  well  known  as 
opposed  to  Bishop  White  on  church  questions.  The 
bishop  listened  with  grieved  look  and  in  utter  silence, 
and  when  the  narrator  ceased,  immediately  introduced 
another  topic  of  discourse. 

The  three  years  of  Mr.  Muhlenberg's  diaconate  were 
well  filled  with  work.  Preaching  was  not  an  onerous 
duty,  alternating  as  he  did  with  the  bishop,  and  each 
sermon  besides  serving  for  the  three  churches.*  These 
early  sermons  were  practical  rather  than  doctrinal; 
they  were  plain,  evangelical  discourses.  Speaking  of 
this  period  of  his  ministry,  he  said:  "I  always  aimed 
to  be  understood  by  my  hearers,  and  I  think  I  never 
preached  beyond  my  own  experience.  Whether  this 
was  right  or  wrong,  I  do  not  say;  but  such  was  the 
fact."  He  greatly  disliked  what  he  called  "the  preach- 
ing tubs"  of  those  days,  feeling  ill  at  ease  in  them; 

*  "The  rector  and  the  assistant-minister  of  Christ  Church,  St.  Pe- 
ter's and  St.  James's  Church,  were  the  same;  and  it  is  not  easy  to 
discover  that  any  one  of  them  officiated  entirely  at  any  one  of  these 
churches.  Bishop  White  was  rector  during  all  the  period.  Kev.  Rob- 
ert Blackwell,  Rev.  James  Abercrombie,  Eev.  Jackson  Kemper,  Rev. 
James  Milnor,  Rev.  William  A.  Muhlenberg,  and  Rev.  William  H. 
Delancey,  were  his  assistants,  they  preaching  interchangeably  at  St. 
James's  and  the  other  churches."— History  of  Philadelphia,  by  Thomp- 
son Wescott. 


54  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

and  throughout  life,  never  overcame  a  nervous  timor- 
ousness  in  high  pulpits,  always  preaching  from  the 
desk  when  he  could. 

The  Sunday  schools  of  the  parish  were  an  espe- 
cial object  of  his  care,  particularly  that  of  St.  James's, 
which  he  had  organized  himself.  He  was  the  means 
also  of  forming  a  Sunday  school  society  that  became 
the  basis  of  the  present  Protestant  Episcopal  Sunday 
School  Union;  his  creating  and  vitalizing  energy  in 
the  Church  thus  beginning  with  his  earliest  exercise 
of  her  ministry.  The  celebration  of  the  first  anniver- 
sary of  the  society  when  all  the  children  of  the  three 
churches  met  at  St.  James's  was  a  great  occasion. 

He  paid  much  attention  to  the  music  at  St.  James's, 
the  immediate  charge  of  which  he  was  able  to  retain 
through  the  agency  of  his  brother.  He  formed  a  choir 
there  and  published  a  collection  of  chants  for  their  use. 
He  longed  to  do  more  than  was  in  his  power  for  the 
appropriate  observance  of  the  Church  Year ;  and  in  his 
diary  of  this  date  laments  the  general  neglect  of  Good 
Friday.  "The  church  was  open  for  service,"  he  writes, 
"and  there  was  a  moderate  attendance;  but  the  ser- 
mon of  him  who  preached  was  quite  a  general  one, 
without  the  slightest  allusion  to  the  Day.  The  anni- 
versary of  our  country's  independence  is  punctiliously 
observed, — should  the  day  whereon  we  were  redeemed 
from  the  slavery  of  sin  pass  thus  unheeded  by  ?  Would 
that  it  were  devoutly  observed  by  Christians  of  every 
name ! " 

He  found  himself  very  much  in  demand  by  some 


A    CALL    TO   LANCASTER.  55 

of  the  good  ladies  of  the  parish,  particularly  of  one  or 
two  who  became  warmly  attached  to  him,  visiting  the 
sick  and  poor  with  them,  and  helping  them  in  works 
of  charity  generally.  A  large  amount  of  this  sort  of 
duty,  and  also  of  baptisms  and  funerals,  seems  to  have 
devolved  upon  the  young  deacon,  and  his  memoranda 
of  these  labors  are  often  both  characteristic  and  pro- 
phetic, showing  thus  early  the  germs  whence  sprang, 
in  after  years,  so  much  noble  fruit.  Closing  a  notice 
of  one  of  his  experiences,  a  sad  tale  of  penury  and 
bereavement  with  not  a  place  where  the  poor  people 
might  lay  their  dead,  he  sighs  almost  audibly:  "How 
I  wish  some  plan  could  be  brought  about  so  that  the 
poor  might  not  be  excluded  from  our  churches  and  bur- 
ial-grounds." From  the  beginning,  he  attached  great 
importance  to  parochial  visiting,  and  laid  down  a  plan 
for  himself  which  he  hoped  would  secure  his  acquaint- 
ance with  every  parishioner.  But  the  complex  nature 
of  the  parish  in  the  union  of  the  three  churches,  and 
the  extended  duties  devolving  upon  him  through  this, 
prevented  the  satisfactory  accomplishment  of  his  aim. 
On  the  22d  of  October,  1820,  he  was  admitted  to 
the  priesthood  by  Bishop  White,  in  Christ  Church, 
having  completed  his  twenty-fourth  year  the  Septem- 
ber previous.  Shortly  after  this  event,  he  accompanied 
the  bishop  to  Lancaster,  Pa.,  for  the  consecration  of  a 
new  church  there,  St.  James's.  The  ceremony  took 
place  on  a  Sunday,  and,  in  the  afternoon  of  the  same 
day,  Mr.  Muhlenberg  preached.  His  sermon  gave  so 
much  satisfaction  that  he  was  immediately  invited  to 


56  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

the  rectorship  of  the  parish,  or  rather  to  three  fourths 
of  it,  every  fourth  Sunday  being  reserved  for  the  old 
minister,  and  on  that  Sunday  the  young  rector  was 
to  preach  at  Pequa,  in  the  same  county. 

The  bishop  at  once  advised  an  acceptance  of  the 
call.  This  was  a  little  piece  of  strategy  of  the  good 
bishop's,  for  he  had  no  idea  of  parting  with  his  chap- 
lain. On  the  contrary,  he  thought  to  make  use  of  the 
circumstance  to  render  Mr.  Muhlenberg's  engagement 
as  his  assistant  a  permanent  one,  instead  of  leaving  it 
subject  to  an  annual  election  as  it  then  was.  He  knew 
the  esteem  in  which  the  young  minister  was  held,  and 
did  not  dream  of  his  resignation  being  allowed  to  take 
effect.  In  this  he  was  sorely  disappointed.  Mr.  Muhl- 
enberg  accepted  the  call  to  St.  James's,  Lancaster,  and 
the  vestry  let  him  go;  for  reasons,  however,  indepen- 
dent of  any  personal  consideration,  but  connected  with 
a  policy  of  their  own. 

Mr.  Muhleiiberg,  for  his  part,  was  well  content  with 
this  result.  Much  as  he  regretted  leaving  Bishop 
White,  he  was  not  satisfied  with  his  work  in  the 
united  churches,  and,  further,  had  begun  to  desire  an 
independent  pastoral  charge. 

His  official  severance  from  his  venerated  friend,  did 
not  terminate  their  affectionate  intercourse,  as  evi- 
denced by  autograph  letters  of  the  bishop's,  as  far 
down  as  the  year  1831.  Mr.  Muhlenberg  had  won  his 
kindest  regard  arid  retained  it.  The  letters  alluded  to 
are  not  of  any  general  interest.  The  subjoined  copy 
of  a  note  addressed  to  Mr.  M.  in  the  second  year  of 


BISHOP   WHITE'S   FRIENDSHIP.  57 

his  charge  at  Lancaster  is  characteristic  of  the  rest 
of  the  correspondence  and  of  the  bishop's  old-fashioned 
style  which  he  never  relinquished. 

PHA.,  March  5,  1822. 

KEVD.  AND  DEAR  SIR: — Your  Brother  informed  some  of  my  Family 
that  you  propofe  to  be  in  this  City  ye  Beginning  of  next  Week.  I 
prefume  you  will  come  furnifhed  with  what  a  certain  clerical  Brother 
compared  to  a  Highway-man's  Piftol.  But  that  ye  Piftol  may  be  of 
ye  proper  Metal,  I  judged  it  expedient  to  inform  you  that  we  have  ap- 
pointed, Sunday  ye  17th,  for  Sermons  in  Behalf  of  OUT  Sunday-School 
Society.  I  remain  yours  any, 

WM.  WHITE. 
To  KEVD.  WM.  A.  MUHLENBEEG. 


CHAPTER    V. 

1820-1824. 

Religion  and  Learning  in  Lancaster. — Apathy  of  the  People. — Mr.  Muhl- 
enberg's  Activity. — Forms  a  Sunday  School. — Interest  in  Public 
Education.  —  Obtains  Passage  of  Bill  through  Legislature. — Large 
School-house  Erected. — Personal  Devotion  to  this  School. — Improves 
the  Monitorial  System.  —  Other  efforts  for  Enlightenment  of  the 
Town. — The  Special  General  Convention,  1821. — Plea  for  Christian 
Hymns. — Effort  in  another  Direction. — Church  Poetry. — Hymn  Com- 
mittee Appointed  at  General  Convention,  1823. — Mr.  Muhlenberg  a 
Member. — Faithful  Pastoral  Labors. — Extracts  from  Parish  Notes. 

EELIGION  and  learning  were  at  a  low  ebb  in  the  city 
of  Lancaster,  Pa.,  when  Mr.  Muhlenberg  entered  upon 
his  cure  there.  This  was  on  the  2d  of  December,  1820. 
In  his  church  on  the  Christmas  Day  following  there 
were  but  fifteen  communicants.  The  parish  had  fallen 
into  decay  through  having  service  but  once  in  every 
four  Sundays,  and  this  by  a  rather  superannuated  cler- 
gyman, and  Sunday  school  there  was  none ;  though  for 
some  time  past  a  union  school  had  been  in  operation, 
composed  of  all  the  English-speaking  denominations  of 
the  place,  among  the  teachers  of  which  were  members 
of  St.  James's  Church. 

Public  education  seemed  to  be  as  little  in  advance  as 
that  of  the  church,  and  an  indifference  existed  in  this 


THE    SUNDAY  SCHOOL.  59 

regard  which  at  once  roused  Mr.  Muhlenberg.  "The 
apathy  on  the  subject  of  education  which  prevails  in 
this  place,"  he  wrote  soon  after  his  arrival,  "  is  fearful. 
I  hope  a  better  day  is  dawning.  Happy  shall  I  be  if  I 
am  at  all  instrumental  in  its  progress." 

The  story  of  his  efforts  to  this  end  is  worth  giving 
somewhat  in  detail.  He  was  not  without  his  troubles 
in  making  the  working  of  his  church  more  efficient, 
but  his  energy  and  perseverance  overcame  them  all. 
His  earliest  step  was  to  form  a  Sunday  school  of  his 
own,  naturally  regarding  that  as  a  very  important  part 
of  a  pastor's  charge.  He  immediately  brought  about 
the  erection  of  a  house  for  the  purpose,  and  some  who 
had  been  his  warm  friends  took  offence  at  this,  think- 
ing the  measure  precipitate.  They  were  hard  to  move 
from  their  old  sleepy  ways.  As  soon  as  the  Episcopal 
school-house  was  opened,  those  teachers  who  were 
members  of  St.  James's  of  course  withdrew  from  the 
union  to  teach  in  their  own  Sunday  school.  Their 
withdrawal  was  another  offence.  It  was  looked  upon 
as  a  sectarian  measure  and  of  aristocratic  character, 
the  comparatively  few  Episcopalians  of  Lancaster  being 
of  the  upper  classes.  But  the  school  was  quickly  filled 
with  children  who  flocked  to  it  from  all  quarters,  and 
particularly  from  the  Lutheran  Church,  where,  as  yet, 
there  was  no  English  Sunday  school.  It  soon  num- 
bered a  hundred  children  in  each  division,  i.  e.,  of  boys 
and  girls  severally,  with  a  body  of  excellent  teachers, 
and  continued  a  very  flourishing  school  throughout  Mr. 
Muhlenberg's  incumbency.  His  own  personality  was 


60  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

the  life  and  soul  of  it.  There  are  those  who  at  this 
day,  after  more  than  fifty  years,  love  to  tell  of  the 
charm  of  that  school,  or  rather  of  its  devoted  rector. 
One  of  these,  now  a  bishop  of  the  Church,*  who  was  a 
Sunday  scholar  there  when  six  or  seven  years  of  age, 
and  later  one  of  his  beloved  college  sons,  has  never  lost 
the  impression  then  made  upon  him.  The  bishop  rec- 
ollects looking  up  to  the  young  pastor's  face  as  he  was 
officiating  at  a  funeral,  and  saying  to  himself,  "How 
beautiful  he  is!"  He  tells  also  of  going  in  common 
with  other  little  ones  of  the  congregation  to  Mr.  Muhl- 
enberg's  study,  where,  after  counsels  suited  to  their 
tender  age,  they  were  sometimes  regaled  with  fruit 
from  the  spreading  boughs  of  a  tree  in  the  garden  be- 
low, which  the  pastor  ingeniously  contrived  to  reach 
for  them  by  means  of  a  long  stick  with  a  hook  and 
open-mouthed  bag  at  the  end  of  it. 

But  the  two  hundred  children  of  this  Sunday  school 
were  a  small  proportion  of  the  young  of  Lancaster  who 
had  reason  to  regard  Mr.  Muhlenberg  as  their  best 
friend.  In  his  labors  for  the  public  education  of  the 
place,  he  was  the  source  of  a  far  wider  benefit.  During 
his  diaconate  in  Philadelphia,  he  had  been  elected  a 
director  of  the  public  schools  in  that  city,  which  were 
then  conducted  on  the  Lancasterian,  or  monitorial,  sys- 
tem. He  became  much  interested  in  that  system,  and 
was  not  long  in  Lancaster  before  he  took  measures  for 
introducing  it  there.  He  obtained  the  passage  of  a  bill 

*  Bishop  Kerfoot  of  Pittsburg. 


PUBLIC   EDUCATION.  61 

through  the  legislature,  making  the  city  of  Lancaster 
the  second  public  school  district  in  the  state,  Philadel- 
phia being  the  first.  This  was  done  with  his  usual  un- 
obtrusiveness  and  did  not  attract  much  attention,  but 
after  the  bill  was  passed  and  a  large  school-house  began 
to  be  erected  from  the  public  funds,  the  German  resi- 
dents took  alarm,  and  remonstrated  against  the  legis- 
lation as  unjust,  since  only  the  English  language  would 
be  taught  in  the  school.  They  were  too  late.  The 
school-house  was  completed,  costing  from  nine  to  ten 
thousand  dollars,  and  accommodating  some  six  hundred 
children. 

Mr.  Muhlenberg  was  the  youngest  member  of  the 
Board  of  Directors,  but,  as  the  originator  of  the  school, 
its  working  was  left  very  much  with  himself.  He  in- 
directly obtained  the  appointment  of  a  candidate  for 
orders  in  the  Episcopal  Church  as  principal,  and  as  the 
prayers,  Scripture  reading,  and  hymn  singing  were  a 
daily  exercise,  many  of  the  scholars  were  drawn  to  the 
church  Sunday  school,  the  head  being  the  same  in  both. 
Mr.  Muhlenberg  visited  this  public  school  constantly, 
instructing  the  teachers  himself,  and  taking  as  much 
interest  in  it  as  if  it  had  been  a  work  of  his  own.  He 
introduced  an  important  change  in  the  Lancasterian 
method.  The  monitors  according  to  that  system  were 
taken  from  the  body  of  the  scholars  and  remained  on 
an  equality  with  them;  Mr.  Muhlenberg  selected  a 
number  of  the  older  and  more  exemplary  boys  and 
girls  to  compose  a  class  of  monitors,  who  received  in- 
struction by  themselves,  and  held  a  higher  rank  in  the 


62  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

school  than  the  other  children.  It  was  the  care  of  this 
public  school  which,  interesting  him  increasingly  in 
Christian  education,  led  him,  at  this  time,  to  regard 
that  as  likely  to  be  the  chief  vocation  of  his  ministry. 
He  took  two  of  the  boy  monitors  of  the  school  to  live 
under  his  own  roof,  and  these  became  two  of  the  first 
tutors  in  the  Institute  at  Flushing. 

Another  beneficent  work  was  greatly  furthered  if  not 
actually  originated  by  him.  Unlike  almost  every  other 
city  of  equal  size  in  the  Union,  there  was  no  public 
library  of  any  kind  in  Lancaster,  and  the  young  me- 
chanics and  apprentices  of  the  town  were  in  a  state 
of  great  mental  as  well  as  moral  indigence.  In  the 
spring  following  his  advent,  we  find  a  meeting  of  the 
citizens  called  to  form  "A  Public  and  Apprentices' 
Library."  Very  few  attended,  but  a  committee  was 
appointed  to  draft  the  Constitution  of  the  Library, 
and  Mr.  Muhlenberg  was  made  its  Chairman.  A  lit- 
tle later,  this  Library  Committee  met  in  his  study 
on  the  question  of  founding  an  Athasneum. 

Christian  hymnody  became,  at  this  time,  a  subject  of 
great  interest  to  him.  There  were  then  only  fifty-six 
hymns  in  the  Prayer  Book,  and  the  metre  singing  was 
confined  almost  entirely  to  Tate  and  Brady's  crude  ver- 
sion of  the  Psalms.  This  poverty  of  our  worship  he  set 
forth  in  a  tract  entitled  "A  Plea  for  Christian  Hymns," 
which  he  addressed  to  a  friend  in  the  Special  General 
Convention,  meeting  in  Philadelphia  in  1821.*  Event- 

*  "The  next  General  Convention,  being  special,  was  held  in  1821, 
in  St.  Peter's  Church,  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  from  October  30  to 


PLEA    FOR    CHRISTIAN  HYMNS.  63 

ually  this  paper  accomplished  its  mission,  but  Mr. 
Muhlenberg  was  much  disappointed  that  at  the  time 
it  gave  rise  to  no  action.  It  was  characteristic  of  his 
perseverance  and  of  the  tenacity  with  which  he  held 
to  an  idea  he  knew  to  be  right,  that  he  prosecuted 
his  object  in  another  direction.  He  prepared  a  selec- 
tion of  Metre  Psalms  and  Hymns  from  various  authors, 
which  he  entitled,  "  Church  Poetry,"  and  put  the  vol- 
ume into  use  in  his  own  congregation.  It  was  quickly 
adopted  by  several  other  pastors,  in  different  parts  of 
the  country,  who  agreed  with  Mr.  Muhlenberg  that  in 
the  use  of  hymns  the  clergy  were  free.  In  this  opinion 
they  were  sustained  by  Bishop  White.  Mr.  Muhlen- 
berg obtained  permission  to  express  the  bishop's  sen- 
timents on  the  subject  in  an  article  that  he  published 
in  one  of  the  periodicals  of  the  day,  and  which  thus 
brought  the  matter  into  wider  notice  and  gave  rise 

November  3,  inclusive.  The  bishops  present  were  Bishop  White,  of 
Pennsylvania,  presiding  bishop;  Bishop  Hobart,  of  New  York;  Bishop 
Griswold,  of  the  Eastern  Diocese ;  Bishop  Kemp,  of  Maryland;  Bishop 

Croes,  of  New  Jersey;  and  Bishop  Brownell,  of  Connecticut 

The  Kev.  William  Augustus  Muhlenberg  was  Secretary  of  the  House 
of  Bishops. 

"The  Convention  assembled  on  the  call  of  the  presiding  bishop, 
induced  by  the  desire  of  the  trustees  of  the  Theological  Seminary, 
to  consider  whether  any,  or  what,  measures  should  be  adopted,  for 
the  obtaining  of  a  legacy  of  about  sixty  thousand  dollars,  bequeathed 
by  Jacob  Sherred,  of  the  city  of  New  York,  to  a  Seminary  which 
should  be  instituted  within  the  state,  either  by  the  General  Con- 
vention or  by  that  of  the  diocese  in  which  the  testator  lived  and 
died "—Bishop  White's  Memoirs  of  the  Prof.  Epis.  Church. 


64  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

to  the  remark  at  the  next  General  Convention  (1823) 
that  "  it  was  high  time  the  church  acted  in  the  matter, 
for  if  not,  the  clergy  would  take  it  into  their  own 
hands."  Mr.  Muhlenberg,  who  was  a  member  of  that 
convention,  then  became  one  of  a  committee  appointed 
on  the  subject  of  Psalms  and  Hymns.  The  conclusion 
of  this  history  belongs  to  a  subsequent  chapter.* 

These  labors  in  behalf  of  public  education  and  hym- 
nody,  while  reaching  far  beyond  Mr.  Muhlenberg's  own 
flock,  were  in  the  first  instance  suggested  by  their 
needs  and  earnestly  applied  to  their  particular  moral 
and  religious  improvement.  His  fidelity  as  a  pastor 
to  the  humblest  parochial  duty,  and  his  deep,  unfeigned 
concern  for  the  salvation  of  the  souls  given  to  his  care, 
appear  very  interestingly  in  every  page  of  his  parish 
notes  of  this  date.  For  the  sake  of  the  insight  they 
afford  into  this  part  of  his  life,  we  extract  a  few  of  the 
more  general  of  these  private  memoranda: 

.  .  .  .  "  Spent  the  morning  in  visiting  several 
of  the  poorest  members  of  the  church — am  convinced 
that  much  more  can  be  done,  in  this  way,  out  of  the 
pulpit  than  in  it — Spoke  with  more  ease  and  freedom 
than  last  week — I  thank  God  for  it,  and  pray  he  will 
give  me  necessary  utterance." 

.  .  .  .  "Procured  Allein's  Alarm  and  Baxter's 
Call — I  wish  I  could  preach  more  in  the  manner  of 
these  writers — God  alone  knows  how  I  agonize  in 
prayer  to  be  useful." 

*  See  page  83 


PARISH  NOTES.  65 

Sunday.  "Rose  at  six.  Looked  over  sermon — Sun- 
day school  at  eight.  Preached  in  the  morning  on  Bap- 
tism, and  administered  the  ordinance  to and  to 

.  The  former  I  think  was  qualified,  but  the  other 

was  so  unsociable  and  dull  that,  although  I  could  not 
refuse  her  the  sacrament,  she  desiring  it,  I  was  not  as 
well  satisfied  as  I  wished — Afternoon  at  the  Sunday 
school — attendance  176 — Evening  preached  an  old  Ser- 
mon, 'Unto  you  that  believe' — This  was  laziness — 
I  had  no  excuse  for  not  writing  a  new  one." 

Another  Sunday.  "Confirmation,  seventeen  candi- 
dates. The  bishop  gave  too  little  notice,  or  I  could 
have  done  better.  Might  have  had  a  larger  number, 
but  discouraged  some  who  did  not  regard  the  rite  seri- 
ously. It  is  too  often  looked  at  as  a  ceremony  of  the 
Episcopal  Church,  proper  to  go  through  with,  instead 
of  a  public  profession  of  religion." 

After  a  Sunday  ivell  filed  with  worh  "Holy  Spirit, 
descend  and  bless  the  labors  of  this  day — If  I  am  con- 
vinced of  any  religious  truth  it  is  that  without  divine 
grace  our  labors  for  our  own  salvation  or  that  of  others 
are  altogether  vain." 

.  .  .  .  "Was  called  up  at  three  A.  M.  to  see  a  man 
who  thought  himself  dying.  He  was  much  alarmed — 
had  no  clear  ideas  of  the  Gospel.  Strove  to  show  him 
the  necessity  of  repentance  towards  God  and  faith  in 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  He  was  too  much  frightened 
to  be  edified — Called  to  see  him  again  after  breakfast — 
'  Oh !  can't  you  give  me  some  consolation  ? '  he  cried. 
How  painful  were  those  words  to  me — How  would  my 


66  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

natural  feelings  prompt  me  to  set  before  him  all  the 
glories  of  heaven.  I  went  as  far  as  I  could,  knowing 
that  he  had  not  led  a  Christian  life." 

....  "Mrs. 's  little  daughter  is  dead.  Found 

the  poor  mother  in  an  agony  of  grief — Tried  to  ad- 
minister religious  consolation,  but  when  the  loss  is  so 
fresh  the  sufferer  refuses  comfort.  The  child  was  her 
idol,  she  says.  I'm  pleased  that  she  recognizes  the 
hand  of  God  in  its  removal." 

....  "Mr.  —  -  told  me  that  "  (an  influ- 
ential member  of  the  parish)  "  was  displeased  with  my 
using  an  extempore  prayer  after  my  sermons.  But  I 
am  decided  to  continue  it.  I  think  it  edifying,  and  it 
serves  to  impress  the  sermon  on  the  mind." 

.  .  .  .  "Was  delighted  this  afternoon  by  two 
of  my  Sunday-school  teachers  desiring  me  to  hold  a 
prayer-meeting  in  the  school-house.  They  are  much 
impressed,  and  tell  me  that  among  their  fellow-appren- 
tices there  is  a  spreading  concern  for  their  souls.  I 
promised  to  give  the  subject  serious  attention.  I  know 
how  prayer-meetings  are  often  abused,  but  when  con- 
ducted properly  they  may  become  nurseries  of  the 
church.  In  this  matter  one  must  endeavor  to  take 
the  medium  between  enthusiasm  and  formality.  .  ^. '  ; 
Young  converts'  weaknesses  are  so  closely  intertwined 
with  their  pious  feelings  that  the  former  must  be  in- 
dulged for  the  sake  of  cherishing  the  latter.  If,  with 
a  rude  hand,  we  proceed  to  root  up  the  tares,  we  may 
spoil  many  a  fine  blade  of  wheat  that  would  have 
ripened,  and  borne  fruit  abundantly. — Lord,  I  pray  for 


ENCOURAGEMENT.  67 

thy  direction!  My  heart  is  indeed  refreshed  at  the 
prospect  of  a  revival  of  religion  in  this  place  where  its 
influence  is  so  little  felt." 

Some  time  later.     "Two  young   brothers,   and 

,  of  the  prayer-meeting,  came  by  my  request  to  my 

study.  I  wished  an  opportunity  to  talk  with  and  advise 
them  on  the  present  state  of  their  minds.  While  I  en- 
couraged their  serious  feelings,  I  tried  to  make  them 
distinguish  between  mere  feeling  and  sober  religion.  I 
warned  them  against  Spiritual  Pride,  and  against  Cen- 
soriousness,  that  common  failing  of  young  converts.  1 
showed  them  the  danger  of  zeal  without  knowledge, 
and  urged  upon  them  a  diligent  attention  to  the  study 
of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  to  prayer.  I  recommended 
them,  in  conversing  with  their  companions,  to  speak 
little  of  their  own  feelings,  and  more  of  the  practical 
duties  of  the  Christian.  I  solemnly  cautioned  them  to 
look  for  the  evidence  of  their  conversion  only  in  the 
right  state  of  their  hearts  and  lives,  and  concluded  with 
prayer  to  God,  in  their  behalf  They  are  young  men 
of  rather  weak  minds,  and  mistake  too  much  animal 
feeling  for  real  godliness.  But  Piety,  in  this  soil,  is  so 
rare  a  flower  that  I  am  disposed  to  nourish  and  water 
every  thing  that  bears  its  resemblance,  or  has  any  of 
its  fragrance." 


CHAPTER   VI. 

1824-1826. 

Joy  and  sorrow. — Resoluteness.— An  Occurrence  Several  Years  Later.— 
The  Roman  Catholic  Preacher.  —  Sentiments  Regarding  Celibacy. — 
His  Journals  and  Prayers. — "I  would  not  Live  Alway."— History  of 
the  Hymn.— His  Dissatisfaction  with  it.— A  Fable  Apologetic.— Power 
of  Looking  at  Himself  Objectively. — Attempted  Emendation  of  the 
Hymn. — Another  in  1876. — Original  Version  in  full. — Why  He  Wrote 
these  Several  Versions. — Unexpected  Popularity  of  the  Piece. — The 
Attention  it  drew. — Burdensome  Honors. — A  Contemporaneous  Effu- 
sion.— Might  have  been  a  Poet. — Byron  and  Moore.— Conscious  of 
Kindred  Power.— A  Poet  of  a  Higher  Kind. — Musical  Gift.— A  Rare 
Double  Endowment. — Education  Prospectively  His  Vocation. — Resigns 
Charge  at  Lancaster.— Passage  from  His  Farewell  Sermon. 

MOST  lives  have  their  romance,  and  the  one  before 
us  was  not  an  exception,  of  which  a  separate  story 
might  here  be  written,  were  it  to  the  purpose  of  these 
pages.  Both  the  light  and  the  shadow  of  that  romance 
fell  upon  the  years  of  earnest  work  spent  in  Lancaster, 
and  when  Mr.  Muhlenberg  gave  up  his  charge  there, 
he  left  behind  him  the  grave  of  his  earthly  hopes. 

As  illustrating  a  strong  element  in  his  character, 
we  make  a  single  extract  from  his  private  diary  in 
this  connection.  He  had  incurred  the  displeasure  of 
a  gentleman  whose  favor,  at  the  time,  was  of  im- 
portance to  him,  by  instituting  an  evening  service; 
after  reviewing,  for  a  minute  or  two,  the  advantages 


"GOD   MUST  HAVE   IT  ALL."  69 

he  would  be  likely  to  gain  by  some  concessions  in  this 
particular,  he  adds:  "But  for  no  earthly  consideration 
whatever,  not  even  the  attainment  of  the  dear  object  of 
my  heart,  will  I  sacrifice  what  I  believe  to  be  the  in- 
terests of  my  church.  0  Lord,  help  me !  " 

He  never  formed  a  second  attachment.  Several  years 
after  the  time  of  which  we  now  speak,  his  friends  be- 
came anxious  for  his  alliance  with  a  lady  of  very  suit- 
able connection,  who  was  known  to  have  a  predilection 
for  him.  He  called  once  or  twice  upon  her,  and  en- 
gaged on  a  certain  Sunday  to  escort  her  to  morning 
service.  On  his  way  to  keep  the  appointment,  he 
passed  a  Roman  Catholic  church,  and  stepping  in  for 
a  moment,  these  words  of  the  preacher  fell  upon  his 
ear:  "We  have  but  one  heart;  if  we  had  two  hearts, 
we  might  give  one  to  God  and  the  other  to  this  world ; 
having  but  one,  God  must  have  it  all."  "Amen  1"  said 
William  Augustus  Muhlenberg's  inmost  soul;  "Fare- 
well,   ,"  and  he  neither  took  the  lady  to  church 

nor  sent  her  the  book  she  had  asked  to  borrow  of  him. 
His  visits  had  been  those  of  an  acquaintance  only,  and 
he  was  free  to  excuse  himself. 

Not  to  be  misleading,  however,  it  is  a  duty  to  quote 
in  this  connection,  some  words  of  his  own  bearing  upon 
the  point  before  us.  "If  celibacy,"  he  said,  "has  been 
the  destiny  of  my  life,  it  was  not  its  programme.  I 
never  advocated  the  unmarried  state  as  preferable  for 
a  clergyman,  though  in  my  own  case,  in  the  orderings 
of  Providence,  it  has  enabled  me  to  do  various  works 
in  the  church,  which  otherwise  I  might  not  have  under- 


70  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

taken  or  even  have  thought  of."  He  believed,  indeed, 
and  inspired  others  with  the  belief,  that  in  all  ages 
and  in  all  the  parts  of  Christendom,  there  have  been  in- 
dividuals who,  from  supreme  love  to  God  chose  to  fore- 
go the  ordinary  ties  of  earth,  remembering  our  Lord's 
words,  "He  that  is  able  to  receive  it,  let  him  receive 
it ; "  but  he  condemned  entirely  the  imposition  of  rules 
to  this  end  upon  organizations  or  classes,  either  of  men 
or  women,  and  always  spoke  with  the  strongest  rep- 
rehension of  the  enforced  celibacy  of  the  Roman  clergy. 
His  journals,  now  and  henceforward,  throw  increas- 
ing light  upon  the  means  whereby,  through  God's 
grace,  he  reached  that  spiritual  growth  which,  com- 
bined with  his  fine  natural  endowments,  made  him 
the  man  he  was.  These  papers  are  not,  by  any  means, 
a  connected  record  of  his  life.  There  are  lapses  of 
weeks,  months,  and  years  in  their  dates;  sometimes 
they  are  quite  fragmentary,  but  he  evidently  felt  it 
profitable  to  write  them  as  faithfully  as  he  could;  pri- 
marily for  self-improvement,  subordinately  for  the  as- 
sistance of  memory  in  other  things.  At  the  end  of 
every  few  years,  we  find  they  have  been  prayerfully 
reperused,  and  the  date  of  such  exercise  marked  upon 
them,  sometimes  with  a  suggestion  of  the  reflections 
excited.  All  along,  with  an  affecting  simplicity  and 
sincerity,  their  pages  breathe  an  intense  desire  after 
holiness  and  usefulness,  and  show  a  close  self-search- 
ing, a  jealous  self-discipline,  a  depth  of  penitence,  and 
persistency  of  prayer,  such  as  one  reads  of  the  church's 
greatest  saints.  He  frequently  wrote  out  at  length  his 


"7    WOULD   NOT  LIVE   ALWAYS  71 

private  prayers,  and  it  is  remembered  that  in  his  min- 
istry he  sometimes  recommended  this  as  a  helpful 
spiritual  exercise,  especially  for  those  who  unhappily, 
even  in  their  closets,  required  a  precomposed  form. 
"If  you  must  have  a  form  of  prayer  in  private,"  he 
would  say  tersely,  "write  it  yourself." 

The  first  version  of  his  far-famed  hymn,  "I  would 
not  live  alway,"  belongs  to  this  period.  It  is  popularly 
believed  to  have  been  composed  under  the  loss  alluded 
to  on  a  preceding  page;  but  this  is  a  mistake.  We 
have  his  own  words  to  the  contrary.  "The  legend," 
he  says,  "that  it  was  written  upon  an  occasion  of 
private  grief,  is  a  fiction."  In  fact  the  hymn  was 
penned  before  the  event  referred  to  took  place.  De- 
spite his  cheerful  temperament,  there  was  in  Mr.  Muhl- 
enberg,  as  in  all  earth's  greater  souls,  a  vein  of  mel- 
ancholy, and  this  is  one  of  its  manifestations,  not 
untinged,  perhaps,  by  some  forecasting,  though  un- 
recognized, shadows  of  the  sorrow  so  commonly  asso- 
ciated with  it.  Later  in  life,  when  his  growth  in  Christ 
had  advanced  far  above  that  to  which  at  this  time  he 
had  attained, — when,  borne  on  the  wings  of  a  more 
vigorous  faith,  he  lived  habitually  in  a  freer,  clearer 
spiritual  atmosphere,  enjoying  what  he  liked  to  call 
"the  joy  of  strength  and  the  strength  of  joy," — he 
greatly  faulted  this  early  hymn,  as  not  having  a 
healthy  Christian  tone,  and  in  1871,  nearly  fifty  years 
after  its  birth,  took  it  quaintly  to  task  on  this  score, 
in  a  very  original  and  charming  little  paper,  entitled 
"A  Fable  Apologetic."  He  had  a  remarkable  faculty 


72  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

for  looking  at  himself  and  his  works  "  objectively,"  so 
to  speak.  He  could  project  himself  before  his  own 
mental  and  moral  vision,  and  approve  or  condemn 
as  dispassionately,  it  seemed,  as  if  he  were  judging 
some  indifferent  party.  In  the  same  way,  he  could 
always  put  himself  wonderfully  in  the  place  of  any 
one  who  had  injured  or  opposed  him,  or  whom  he 
had  accidentally  offended,  giving  the  other  the  full  ben- 
efit of  every  possible  excuse  or  palliation.  And  this 
he  would  do,  not  as  constrained  by  duty,  much  less 
by  any  false  sentiment,  but  spontaneously,  instinc- 
tively, out  of  the  greatness  of  his  fine  candor  and  gen- 
uine Christian  charity.  Sometimes  in  a  minor  matter, 
he  would  half-playfully  arraign  himself,  as  "Wilhelm 
August  Muhleiiberg,"  giving  his  name  its  German  form 
and  pronunciation,  and  so  taking  the  pros  and  cons 
of  the  case.  This  would  be  in  the  presence  of  very 
intimate  friends  only,  and  his  singular  power  of  thus 
"  objectively "  discussing  himself  would  never  have 
been  brought  so  publicly  to  bear  upon  the  composi- 
tion before  us,  but  for  its  unexpected  popularity  and 
the  consequent  sincere  desire  he  felt  to  make  it  a  bet- 
ter expression  of  Christian  faith  and  hope.  In  1871,  in 
connection  with  the  "  Fable  Apologetic,"  already  named, 
he  tried  an  emendation  of  the  piece,  which  he  called 
" 'I  WOULD  NOT  LIVE  ALWAY'  EVANGELIZED." *  But  the  trem- 
bling hand  of  age  could  not  sweep  the  poetic  lyre 
with  the  grace  and  beauty  of  youthful  vigor,  and, 

*  T.  Whittaker,  Publisher,  No.  2  Bible  House,  N.  Y. 


PAUL    RATHER    THAN  JOB.  73 

however  holier  the  strain,  the  evangelized  version  did 
not  take.  Not  with  any.  "Be  it  faulty,  as  it  may," 
people  said,  "we  like  the  old  better."  And  truly  the 
hymn,  as  it  came  originally  from  his  own  heart  and 
mind,  with  its  Christian  sentiment  clothed  in  perfect 
imagery  and  its  sweet  and  musical  rhythm,  has  found 
an  echo  in  too  many  other  hearts,  carried  joy  and  con- 
solation to  too  many  mourners,  for  it  not  to  remain  ever 
a  glory  to  him  that  he  wrote  it.  At  the  same  time 
his  riper  experience  is  not  to  be  disregarded  and  there 
are  many  sanctified  souls  who  will  unite  with  him  in 
saying,  as  in  his  later  years  he  loved  to  do:  "Paul's 
desire  to  'depart  and  be  with  Christ,'  is  better  than 
Job's  '  I  would  not  live  alway.' " 

In  the  year  1859,  when  publishing  a  little  collection 
of  his  verses  for  the  benefit  of  St.  Luke's  Hospital,  he 
had  made  an  attempt  to  correct  what  he  felt  to  be 
amiss  in  the  original  piece  by  means  of  a  postscript, 
appended  to  it  ;*  and  in  1876,  only  the  year  before  he 
was  taken  away  from  us,  he  completed  still  another 
version,  which  in  some  respects  is  the  most  interesting 
of  all.f  The  verses  which  now  make  the  93d  hymn  of 
the  hymnal,  formerly  the  187th  of  the  Book  of  Com- 
mon Prayer,  are  but  half  of  the  original  poem,  which 
was  thus  condensed  to  adapt  it  to  the  purposes  of  pub- 
lic worship.  The  following  is  the  authentic  version 
entire  and  as  last  revised  by  himself. 

*  See  "I  would  not  Live  Alway,  and  Other  Verses."  A.  D.  F.  Ean- 
dolph,  N.  Y. 

t  See  page  480  of  this  work. 


74  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

I  WOULD  NOT  LIVE   ALWAY. 

Job   vii.  16. 

I  would  not  live  alway — live  alway  below  1 

Oh  no,  I'll  not  linger  when  bidden  to  go : 

The  days  of  our  pilgrimage  granted  us  here, 

Are  enough  for  life's  woes,  full  enough  for  its  cheer: 

"Would  I  shrink  from  the  path  which  the  prophets  of  God, 

Apostles,  and  martyrs,  so  joyfully  trod? 

Like  a  spirit  unblest,  o'er  the  earth  would  I  roam, 

While  brethren  and  friends  are  all  hastening  home? 

I  would  not  live  alway :  I  ask  not  to  stay, 
Where  storm  after  storm  rises  dark  o'er  the  way; 
Where  seeking  for  rest  we  but  hover  around, 
Like  the  patriarch's  bird,  and  no  resting  is  found; 
Where  Hope  when  she  paints  her  gay  bow  in  the  air, 
Leaves  its  brilliance  to  fade  in  the  night  of  despair, 
And  joy's  fleeting  angel  ne'er  sheds  a  glad  ray, 
Save  the  gleam  of  the  plumage  that  bears  him  away. 

I  would  not  live  alway — thus  fettered  by  sin, 
Temptation  without  and  corruption  within; 
In  a  moment  of  strength  if  I  sever  the  chain, 
Scarce  the  victory's  mine,  ere  I'm  captive  again; 
E'en  the  rapture  of  pardon  is  mingled  with  fears, 
And  the  cup  of  thanksgiving  with  penitent  tears: 
The  festival  trump  calls  for  jubilant  songs, 
But  my  spirit  her  own  miserere  prolongs. 

I  would  not  live  alway— no,  welcome  the  tomb, 
Since  Jesus  hath  lain  there  I  dread  not  its  gloom; 
Where  he  deigned  to  sleep,  I'll  too  bow  my  head, 
All  peaceful  to  slumber  on  that  hallowed  bed. 
Then  the  glorious  daybreak,  to  follow  that  night, 
The  orient  gleam  of  the  angels  of  light, 
With  their  clarion  call  for  the  sleepers  to  rise 
And  chant  forth  their  matins,  away  to  the  skies. 


FAME.  75 

Who,  who  would  live  alway?  away  from  his  God, 

Away  from  yon  heaven,  that  blissful  abode 

Where  the  rivers  of  pleasure  flow  o'er  the  bright  plains, 

And  the  noontide  of  glory  eternally  reigns; 

Where  the  saints  of  all  ages,  in  harmony  meet 

Their  Saviour  and  brethren,  transported  to  greet, 

While  the  songs  of  salvation  exultingly  roll 

And  the  smile  of  the  Lord  is  the  feast  of  the  soul. 

That  heavenly  musick !  what  is  it  I  hear  ? 

The  notes  of  the  harpers  ring  sweet  in  mine  ear ! 

And  see,  soft  unfolding  those  portals  of  gold, 

The  King  all  arrayed  in  his  beauty  behold ! 

Oh  give  me,  oh  give  me,  the  wings  of  a  dove 

To  adore  him— be  near  him— enrapt  with  his  love; 

I  but  wait  for  the  summons,  I  list  for  the  word — 

Alleluia— Amen— evermore  with  the  Lord. 

One  must  appreciate  the  amount  of  attention  which 
"I  would  not  live  alway"  attracted  to  its  author,  and 
particularly  during  the  last  twenty  years  of  his  life, 
to  exonerate  him,  as  is  entirely  due,  of  any  thing  like 
egotism  in  putting  forth  these  various  versions  of  it. 
It  was,  as  already  intimated,  his  genuine  surprise  at 
finding  people  make  so  much  of  the  hymn  which  moved 
him  to  these  endeavors  to  render  it  worthier  of  their 
attention.  The  kind  of  notice  it  drew  towards  him 
was  sometimes  amusing,  occasionally  a  little  trouble- 
some. Persons  would  call  upon  him,  to  the  interrup- 
tion of  some  serious  business,  "Just,"  as  they  said,  "for 
the  purpose  of  shaking  hands  with  the  author  of  '  I 
would  not  live  alway,' "  or  beset  him  for  his  autograph 
with  a  line  of  his  "immortal  hymn";  or  again,  acci- 
dentally catching  his  name  as  they  passed  him,  exclaim, 


76  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

"Have  I  the  honor  to  speak  to  the  author  of  '  I  would 
not  live  alway'?"  Both  his  humility  and  his  pride 
rather  rebelled  against  these  demonstrations:  his  hu- 
mility in  that  he  did  not  think  himself  worthy  of  any 
such  notice ;  and  his  pride,  because  so  much  more  was 
made  of  this  one  production  than  of  all  his  other  labors 
collectively.  "  One  would  think  that  Tiymn  the  one  work 
of  my  life,"  he  would  sometimes  say  rather  grimly. 

There  is  another  beautiful  little  effusion,  written  in 
1824,  in  the  same  year  with  the  original  "I  would 
not  live  alway,"  which  is  not  too  long  for  insertion 
here.  We  give  it  as  a  good  example  of  his  style — 

SINCE  O'ER  THY  FOOTSTOOL. 

Since  o'er  thy  footstool  here  below, 

Such  radiant  gems  are  strown, 
Oh,  what  magnificence  must  glow, 

My  God,  about  thy  throne  ! 
So  brilliant  here  these  drops  of  light, 

There  the  full  vision  rolls,  how  bright ! 

If  night's  blue  curtain  of  the  sky, 

With  thousand  stars  inwrought, 
Hung  like  a  royal  canopy 

With  glittering  diamonds  fraught, 
Be,  Lord,    thy  temple's  outer  veil, 

What  splendor  at  the  shrine  must  dwell ! 

The  dazzling  sun,  at  noontide  hour, 

Forth  from  his  flaming  vase, 
Flingling  o'er  earth  the  golden  shower, 

Till  vale  and  mountain  blaze, 
But  shows,  O  Lord,  one  beam  of   thine, 

What,  then,  the  day  where  thou  dost  shine ! 


A    RARE    TWIN   GIFT.  77 

Ah !  how  shall  these  dim  eyes  endure 

That  noon  of  living  rays, 
Or,  how  my  spirit  so  impure 

Upon  thy  brightness  gaze? 
Anoint,  O  Lord,  anoint  my  sight, 

And  robe  me  for  that  world  of  light. 

Thus  he  might  have  been  a  poet,  had  he  surrendered 
himself  to  that  one  thing.  At  the  time  of  his  writing 
the  two  pieces  just  noticed,  Byron  and  Moore  were 
coming  into  fame.  He  read  their  works,  and  felt  that 
he  possessed  a  kindred  power.  "  I  could  write,  too,"  he 
said  to  himself.  He  was  full  of  musical  numbers  and 
threw  off  verse  with  much  facility ;  but  his  sacred  office 
was  too  dear  and  absorbing,  arid  the  works  to  which 
his  consecrated  genius  prompted  him  too  laborious,  to 
admit  of  any  close  application  to  merely  literary  pur- 
suits. Hence,  while  of  a  highly  poetic  nature  and  of 
exquisite  taste,  he  has  not  left  us  any  productions  of 
the  first  order  as  to  the  Poetry  of  Letters.  Yet  he  was 
a  heaven-born  poet  withal,  in  the  essential  meaning  of 
the  word,  for  "God's  own  prophets  are  his  poets,  un- 
der-makers,"  and  he  had  "the  vision  and  the  faculty 
divine,"  inspiring  him  to  create  beautiful  and  endur- 
ing forms,  in  beneficent  works  and  in  habitual  love- 
liness of  gracious  deeds,  "more  strong  than  all  poetic 
thought." 

One  very  rare  gift  he  pre-eminently  possessed:  that 
of  making,  not  only  songs  and  hymns,  but  the  appro- 
priate melodies  for  singing  them,  of  which  instances 
will  appear  further  on.  It  was  with  his  musical  as 


78  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

with  his  poetical  endowments,  he  had  both  taste  and 
talent,  and  produced,  with  much  ease,  numerous  chants 
and  airs,  as  he  wanted  them;  but  the  exercise  of  this 
gift  was  simply  an  accident  in  his  occupied  life,  or  a 
chance  refreshment  by  the  way. 

He  had  been  now  five  years  and  a  half  in  Lancaster, 
— years  admirably  filled  with  useful  and  durable  labors. 
Every  year  had  strengthened  his  impression  that  Chris- 
tian education  was  to  be  his  principal  work,  and  im- 
pelled by  this  idea,  as  well  as  by  other  considerations, 
unnecessary  to  relate,  in  the  summer  of  1826,  he  ten- 
dered a  resignation  of  his  charge.  It  was  not,  at  first, 
accepted,  the  vestry  requesting  him  to  reconsider  it. 
This  he  declined,  and  took  leave  of  them  about  the 
middle  of  July,  overwhelmed  with  the  regrets  of  the 
people.  The  following  is  a  passage  from  his  farewell 
sermon :  "  Let  the  harmony  continue  which  has  existed 
between  yourselves  and  your  brethren  of  other  denom- 
inations. Hitherto  it  has  gone  on  delightfully.  May 
it  not  be  interrupted.  Why  should  Christians  quarrel 
about  the  little  points  in  which  they  differ,  instead  of 
loving  each  other  for  the  great  ones  wherein  they 
agree  ?  They  all  profess  to  be  on  the  road  to  heaven, 
strange  that  they  should  go  fighting  along  the  way. 
If  we  are  children  of  the  same  Father,  travelling  tow- 
ard the  same  home,  and  hoping  to  sit  down,  at  last,  to 
the  same  banquet,  let  us  'love  as  brethren.'" 


CHAPTER    VII. 

1826-1828. 

Christian  Schools  Essential  to  the  Commonwealth. — Originator  of  their 
Type. — Eventful  Sunday  at  Flushing. — His  Hymns  of  this  Date. — The 
Hymn  Committee.— Association  with  Dr.  H.  U.  Onderdonk. — Con- 
vention of  1826. — The  Hymns  Passed. — Absence  of  Party  Feeling. — A 
Dinner-Table  Talk. — Taken  at  his  Word. — The  Flushing  Institute.-— 
Exhilarating  Effect  of  a  New  Project. — Life-Long  Fertility  in  Plans  of 
Beneficence. — Searching  the  Ground  of  his  Undertaking. — Opposition 
of  Family. — His  Mother's  Fears. — A  Portraiture. — The  Reward  he 
sought. — Visits  Lancaster. — Dr.  H.  U.  Onderdonk  chosen  for  Assistant 
Bishop  of  Pennsylvania. — Carries  the  Tidings  to  the  Bishop  Elect. 

IT  was  not  simply  literary  taste  and  a  benevolent 
affection  for  youth  that  prompted  Mr.  Muhlenberg  to 
give  up  so  large  a  part  of  his  life  to  education.  He 
was  a  Christian  philanthropist  and  patriot,  as  well  as 
a  fervent  minister  of  the  Gospel,  and  all  through  his 
labors  in  Lancaster  the  conviction  had  grown  upon 
him,  that  not  only  the  hope  of  the  Church,  but  the 
salvation  of  the  commonwealth,  centred  in  the  Chris- 
tianizing of  education.  He  saw  in  this  the  only  safe- 
guard of  the  State ;  the  only  security  that  the  liberty  of 
our  free  institutions  would  not  become  licentiousness. 
And  so  he  conceived  of  Christian  schools  throughout 
the  land  which  should  substitute  as  nearly  as  possible 
Christian  homes,  for  the  proper  training  of  the  young. 


80  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS   MUHLENBERG. 

This  conception  for  his  own  part,  was  beautified  with 
all  the  many-hued  colorings  of  his  peculiar  gifts  and 
graces,  and  it  became  his  heart's  desire  to  give  it  sub- 
stantial form.  He  would  surrender  himself  person  and 
fortune  to  its  realization.  He  would  have  for  his  as- 
sistance in  the  work,  men  like-minded  with  himself, 
whose  views  of  education  had  "not  been  formed  in  the 
shops  where  it  is  vended  as  an  article  of  trade,"  but, 
looking  upon  it  as  a  sacred  calling,  would  consecrate 
themselves  to  it  on  the  highest  and  holiest  principles. 
It  was  for  him  to  train  such,  as  he  did  most  effectually. 
And  he  saw  in  his  own  church  peculiar  capabilities  for 
the  work.  He  felt  that  "in  her  catholic  faith,  in  her 
venerable  rites  and  chastened  forms,  in  her  enlightened 
reverence  for  antiquity,  in  her  habits  of  subordination, 
and  in  her  love  of  genuine  Protestant  liberty,  she  pre- 
sented the  form  of  Christianity  which  eminently  qual- 
ified her  for  moulding  the  character  of  the  young,  and 
in  these  days  of  reckless  innovations,  for  training  the 
Christian  citizen." 

Entranced  with  the  picture  in  his  mind,  as  he  always 
was  while  revolving  and  shaping  a  new  idea,  he  yet 
stood,  as  was  also  his  wont,  waiting  God's  will  for  an 
opening  with  the  simplicity  of  a  little  child,  ready  to  go 
where  it  was  sent  and  do  what  it  was  bidden.  He  was 
always  a  watchful  observer  of  the  indications  of  Provi- 
dence, and  perhaps  his  hallowed  genius,  in  these  cases, 
showed  itself  almost  as  much  in  his  quick  perception 
and  use  of  opportunities  with  regard  to  time,  place, 
and  people,  as  in  the  original  thought  of  the  work.  So 


DR.   MILNOR'S   STUDY.  81 

where,  or  when,  he  should  begin  the  projected  school 
was  undetermined;  but  solid  learning  as  well  as  solid 
Christian  morals  was  to  distinguish  it,  and  that  he 
might  be  the  better  qualified  in  all  respects  for  its  in- 
auguration, he  determined,  now  that  he  was  free  from 
any  pastoral  charge,  to  make  the  long-promised  visit 
to  Europe  for  the  observation  of  the  institutions  of  the 
old  world. 

There  was  no  seminary  in  the  United  States,  at  that 
time,  which  combined  thorough  scholastic  training  with 
a  high  order  of  Christian  nurture ;  no  Harrow  or  Marl- 
borough  or  Rugby.  And  if  there  had  been  any  thing 
analogous  to  those  great  public  schools  of  England, — 
even  a  Eugby  with  its  Arnold, — it  would  not  have  em- 
bodied his  ideal.  It  was  for  him  to  originate  the  type, 
which  in  the  course  of  the  last  fifty  years  has  been  re- 
produced, with  more  or  less  of  variation,  in  the  many 
church  schools  for  the  education  of  both  sexes  whicji 
have  grown  up  over  the  land. 

He  decided  upon  the  voyage,  and  leaving  Lancaster, 
went  to  New  York  to  spend  a  few  days  with  his  moth- 
er and  sister  previous  to  embarking.  Tidings  reached 
him  there  that  his  brother,  who  had  been  abroad  for 
two  years,  was  on  the  point  of  returning,  and  wishing 
to  see  him  before  he  sailed,  he  postponed  his  depart- 
ure for  three  or  four  weeks.  While  waiting  for  his 
brother's  arrival,  he  happened  one  Saturday  to  be  in 
the  study  of  the  Eev.  Dr.  Milnor,  when  a  gentleman 
from  Flushing  entered  and  asked  the  doctor  if  he  could 
not  recommend  him  a  supply  for  their  vacant  pulpit  on 


82  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

the  morrow.  The  doctor  knew  of  no  one,  but,  turning 
to  Mr.  Muhlenberg,  said,  "Could  not  you  go?"  He 
consented,  and  thus  unwittingly  took  the  first  step 
towards  a  more  speedy  realization  of  his  educational 
plan  than  he  had  contemplated,  and  towards  eighteen 
years  of  pre-eminent  devotion  to  it,  in  that  locality. 
He  preached  (extemporaneously)  at  St.  George's,  Flush- 
ing, on  the  Sunday;  and  the  next  day,  was  invited  to 
the  rectorship.  At  this,  he  hesitated,  but  at  length 
said  he  would  take  charge  of  the  parish  for  six  months, 
if  the  vestry  chose,  and  not  being  able  to  do  any  better, 
they  agreed  to  this.  He  still  entertained  the  idea  of 
going  to  Europe,  but  several  considerations  combined 
to  make  so  much  of  delay  acceptable  to  him,  particu- 
larly the  opportunity  thus  afforded  of  more  frequent  in- 
tercourse with  his  family,  from  whom  during  the  last 
six  years  he  had  been  much  separated. 

He  went  to  Flushing  towards  the  end  of  August  or 
beginning  of  September  (1826),  being  then  just  thirty 
years  of  age.  The  two  youths  of  the  monitorial  class 
at  Lancaster,  already  mentioned,  accompanied  him  and 
lived  with  him  as  his  sons.  Amid  the  abundance  of 
work  which  here,  as  elsewhere,  opened  up  under  the 
impulses  of  his  zeal,  we  find  him  giving  patient  lessons 
to  these  lads  in  Greek,  Latin,  algebra,  rhetoric,  etc.,  be- 
sides the  never-forgotten  instruction  in  the  Christian 
life  and  doctrine,  and  together  with  this  an  attention 
to  their  pleasure,  health,  and  comfort,  altogether  pater- 
nal; for  instance,  one  of  them  having  made  himself  sick 
by  too  close  an  application  to  study,  he  sat  up  the 


COMMITTEE    ON  PSALMS  AND   HYMNS.  83 

greater  part  of  the  niglit,  waiting  upon  the  boy,  and 
watching  him  with  all  a  parent's  solicitude. 

Some  of  the  hymns  of  Mr.  Muhlenberg  with  which 
we  have  become  familiar  in  the  Prayer  Book  were 
written  in  the  first  months  of  his  residence  in  Flush- 
ing: "Like  Noah's  weary  dove,"  "Saviour,  who  thy 
flock  art  feeding,"  and  perhaps  "Shout  the  glad  tid- 
ings." He  was  much  occupied,  at  the  time,  in  select- 
ing and  arranging  material  for  the  "Committee  on 
Psalms  and  Hymns,"  of  which  he  was  a  member,*  and, 
it  may  be  added,  the  chief  worker,  and  these  original 
compositions  were  inserted  in  the  report.  "  Shout  the 
glad  tidings"  was  written  at  the  especial  request  of 
Bishop  Hobart,  who  wanted  a  Christian  hymn  to  the 
tune  of  "Sound  the  loud  timbrel  o'er  Egypt's  dark 
sea."  Mr.  Muhlenberg's  "  Plea  for  Christian  Hymns," 
in  1821,  and  "Church  Poetry,"  in  1823,  it  has  been 
already  shown  were  initiative  of  the  whole  matter. 

A  single  meeting  of  the  committee  was  held  in 
Philadelphia  in  the  fall  of  1823,  and  after  that,  though 
several  attempts  were  made  to  have  a  session,  nothing 

*  "The  next  General  Convention  was  held  in  Philadelphia  from 

the  23d  to  the  26th  day  of  May,   1823 On  the  subject 

of  the  Psalms  and  Hymns,  a  joint  committee  was  appointed,  consist- 
ing of  the  presiding  Bishop  (White),  Bishop  Hobart,  Bishop  Croes, 
the  Rev.  William  Meade,  the  Eev.  Samuel  F.  Jarvis,  D.D.,  the  Eev. 
William  A.  Muhlenberg,  the  Rev.  Jackson  Kemper,  the  Rev.  Samuel 
Turner,  D.D.,  the  Rev.  Richard  L.  Mason,  the  Hon.  Kensey  Johns 
the  Hon.  Robert  Goldsborough,  John  Read,  Esq.,  Edward  J.  Styles, 
Esq.,  Tench  Tilghman,  Esq.,  Francis  S.  Key,  Esq.,  and  Peter  Kean, 
Esq." — Bishop  White's  Memoirs  of  Prot.  Epis.  Church. 


84  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

was  done  until  May,  1826,  when  the  committee  met 
in  New  York  and  referred  the  business  to  a  sub-com- 
mittee, consisting  of  Bishop  Hobart,  Dr.  Turner,  Dr. 
Wilson,  and  Mr.  Muhlenberg,  with  the  understanding 
that  Dr.  H.  U.  Onderdonk,  then  of  Brooklyn,  should 
sit  with  them.  This  committee  again  did  nothing  ; 
they  did  not  even  meet,  and  the  subject  would  prob- 
ably have  been  postponed  until  another  Convention, 
had  not  Mr.  Muhlenberg  and  Dr.  Onderdonk  under- 
taken to  prepare  something  which  the  committee 
might  act  upon  immediately  before  the  meeting  of 
the  Convention. 

Mr.  Muhlenberg  had  felt  some  reluctance  in  uniting 
with  Dr.  0 in  this,  knowing  how  widely  they  dif- 
fered in  taste,  sentiment,  and  opinion;  but  when  they 
got  fairly  to  work,  all  went  vastly  better  than  he  had 
anticipated.  There  were  concessions  and  conciliations 
on  both  sides,  and  a  very  kind  hospitality  on  the  part 
of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Onderdonk,  so  that  the  visits  to  their 
house,  where  the  meetings  were  always  held,  were 
pleasant  ones.  Topics,  other  than  the  Psalms  and 
Hymns,  often  came  up,  and  a  frank,  good-natured  tilt 
on  church  points  sometimes  took  place,  neither  com- 
batant feeling  the  worse  for  it.  If  Mr.  Muhlenberg 
did  the  larger  part  of  the  selecting  and  arranging, 
Dr.  Onderdonk  undertook  all  the  labor  of  transcribing 
and  preparing  the  copy  for  the  press,  and  the  work  of 
these  two  was  made  the  foundation  of  what  was  done 
later  in  Philadelphia,  where  it  came  before  the  whole 
committee  as  the  report  of  the  sub-committee. 


NO    PARTY  FEELING.  85 

The  committee  held  several  sittings  with  a  remark- 
able concord  of  action.  Mr.  Muhlenberg  makes  grate- 
ful note  of  this  and  of  some  other  interesting  par- 
ticulars, connected  with  the  conclusion  of  the  hymn 
business : 

"Brother  Meade,"  he  wrote  in  his  journal  of  this 
date,  "  was  not  more  ready  than  was  Bishop  Hobart  to 
have  a  respectable  body  of  hymns,  and  I  was  surprised 
to  see  how  cheerfully  the  latter  admitted  what  the 
other  would  repeat,  in  several  instances  from  memory. 
'Twas  thus  we  received  'My  Saviour  hanging  on  the 
tree,'  and  '  I  love  thy  kingdom,  Lord,'  from  the  mouth 
of  Brother  Meade;  and  'How  firm  a  foundation'  and 
'Since  I've  known  a  Saviour's  name'  from  Mr.  Key. 

On  the  score  of  my  own  compositions, 

amendments,  etc.,  I  have  every  reason  to  be  satisfied — 
'  Saviour,  who  thy  flock  art  feeding,'  '  How  short  the 
race  our  friend  has  run,'  'Shout  the  glad  tidings,'  'I 
would  not  live  alway,'  and  '  Like  Noah's  weary  dove,' 
are  those  of  mine  which  are  wholly  original.  I  am 
aware  that  they  are  wanting  in  the  chief  excellence  of 
a  hymn, — devotional  spirit.  '  I  would  not  live  alway ' 
was  at  first  rejected  by  the  committee,  in  which  I, 
not  suspected  of  being  the  author,  agreed — knowing 
it  was  rather  poetry  than  an  earnest  song  of  redemp- 
tion. It  was  restored  at  the  urgent  request  of  Dr. 
Onderdonk. 

"  The  committee  reported  by  referring,  in  a  pamphlet 
(the  preparing  and  printing  of  which  fell  to  my  lot), 
to  their  first  publication  based  upon  '  Church  Poet- 


86  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

ry,'  and  to  this  of  Dr.  Onderdonk  and  myself.  The 
Hymns  passed  the  House  of  Bishops  first — then  the 
other  House  with  considerable  unanimity. 

"  I  thanked  God  when  the  question  was  decided,  sin- 
cerely believing  it  is  for  the  good  of  his  church.  Al- 
though the  collection  is  not  altogether  such  a  one  as 
1  could  wish,  it  is,  yet,  a  great  acquisition  to  our  wor- 
ship, and  will,  no  doubt,  further  the  interests  of  piety. 
I  shall  never  repent  the  agency  I  have  had  in  the  mat- 
ter. There  is  a  peculiar  satisfaction  to  me,  in  the 
circumstance  that  it  has  been  a  measure  of  no  party. 
Men  of  both  sides  were  on  the  committee, — bishops, 
clergy,  and  laity.  Dr.  Onderdonk  and  myself  are  at  the 
very  antipodes  of  the  ecclesiastical  globe.  It  has  been 
indeed  a  favorite  object  with  the  evangelical  party, 
but  it  has  had  the  support  of  the  highest  churchmen. 
Thus,  in  the  only  church  affair,  of  general  interest,  in 
which  I  have  had  any  influence,  there  has  been  no 
party  feeling  or  manoeuvre.  May  such  be  the  case  in 
all  that  I  undertake  for  the  church!" 

The  Hymns  passed  November  14th,  1826.  They  were 
thus  secured  to  the  ghurch,  but  considerable  after  labor 
came  upon  him  in  attending  to  the  proofs  and  other 
particulars  of  their  publication. 

In  taking  up  his  abode  in  Flushing,  Mr.  Muhlenberg 
with  his  two  boys  had  to  board  for  some  time  at  the 
one  hotel  of  the  place,  there  being  no  more  suitable 
accommodation  in  the  village,  and  it  happened  at 
dinner  one  day,  in  the  general  dining-room,  he  was 
attracted  by  the  conversation  of  some  gentlemen,  con- 


FLUSHING   INSTITUTE.  87 

cerning  building  an  academy  at  Flushing,  with  pro- 
vision for  a  family  and  boarding  pupils.  He  joined 
them,  and,  quite  unpremeditatedly,  said  if  they  would 
erect  such  a  building  as  he  desired,  he  would  occupy 
it  and  begin  the  Institution  himself.  He  did  not  think 
much  of  what  had  passed,  expected  indeed  to  hear  no 
more  of  it,  when  in  the  evening  the  gentlemen  came 
to  his  room,  and  he  found  he  had  been  taken  at  his 
word.  He  could  not  well  draw  back,  yet  was  not  quite 
ready  to  commit  himself  so  hastily.  The  interview 
ended,  however,  in  his  agreeing  to  have  a  plan  drawn 
for  the  projected  academy,  which  was  to  be  erected 
and  owned  by  an  Incorporated  Company,  to  whom  he 
was  to  pay  an  annual  percentage  of  a  certain  amount 
on  the  cost.  And  so  the  "  Flushing  Institute,"  merged 
later  in  St.  Paul's  College,  began.  He  had  prospec- 
tively  designated  his  contemplated  school  "The  Chris- 
tian Institute"  and  the  stockholders  learning  this,  in 
drafting  their  bill  for  the  legislature,,  called  their  or- 
ganization "The  Christian  Institute  of  Flushing."  But 
the  gentlemen  who  brought  the  bill  forward  thought 
the  word  "Christian"  would  prejudice  the  members 
against  it,  as  they  were  opposed  to  the  incorporation 
of  religious  societies,  and  asked  the  consent  of  the  rest 
to  change  the  name  to  "Flushing  Institute."  In  this 
Mr.  Muhlenberg  heartily  concurred — "  In  truth,"  he 
said,  "I  never  wished  the  stockholders  to  call  them- 
selves '  The  Christian  Institute.'  " 

The  building,  a  commodious  and  sufficiently  impos- 
ing structure,  did  not  come  about  without  some  of  the 


88  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

friction  incident  to  mortal  affairs ;  disagreements  among 
the  Trustees  as  to  locality  and  other  details.  Mr.  Muhl- 
enberg  stood  quietly  aside  watching  the  progress  of 
things  until,  at  one  moment,  a  shipwreck  of  the  whole 
scheme  seeming  imminent,  he  stepped  forward,  and 
in  a  way  of  his  own,  carried  it  over  the  breakers. 
The  corner-stone  was  at  length  laid,  with  the  usual 
ceremonies,  August  11,  1827.  Inside  the  box,  with 
other  documents,  was  a  Greek  New  Testament,  depos- 
ited with  these  words,  "Believing  that  the  Gospel  of 
Jesus  Christ  is  the  best  knowledge,  the  true  wisdom, 
and  the  only  foundation  of  moral  virtue,  we  deposit 
this  New  Testament  in  the  original  language,  praying 
that  its  faith  may  ever  be  the  corner-stone  of  Education 
in  this  Institute." 

The  Christianizing  of  education  was  now,  more  than 
ever,  the  predominant  theme  of  his  reveries,  and  he 
took  a  pure  delight  in  every  step  towards  the  fruition 
of  his  plans.  His  lively  affection  for  the  young,  the 
talent  he  felt  he  possessed  for  interesting  them,  and, 
above  all,  his  appreciation  of  the  influence  of  their 
training  upon  coming  generations  combined,  with  the 
poetic  sentiment  that  was  so  strong  in  him,  to  shed  a 
lustre  on  those  days  of  anticipation  which  brightened 
his  horizon  far  and  near. 

A  new  project,  indeed,  whatever  the  vision  in  his 
mind,  was  always  a  fountain  of  exhilaration  to  him, 
giving  elasticity  to  his  tread,  a  ringing  joyousness  to 
his  voice,  and  a  sort  of  radiancy  to  his  whole  being. 
Those  who  were  nearest  to  him  could  discern  such  an 


EXHILARATION   OF  A   NEW  IDEA.  89 

inspiration  before  he  uttered  a  word  on  the  subject. 
The  flow  of  spirits  it  engendered  glorified  the  daily 
drudgery  with  which,  in  his  unselfishness,  he  was  apt 
to  load  himself,  and  his  routine  duties  were  never  more 
thoroughly  discharged  than  under  such  an  influence, 
when  his  eyes  saw  every  thing  in  roseate  tints,  "  hues 
of  their  own,  fresh  borrowed  from  the  heart." 

Where  he  was  sufficiently  familiar,  the  new-born  idea 
would  be  the  absorbing  topic  of  conversation.  He  was, 
as  he  used  to  say,  "  full  of  it,"  and  persons  and  things, 
great  and  small,  as  they  came  before  him,  were  pressed 
either  immediately  or  prospectively  into  its  develop- 
ment. On  the  other  hand,  with  all  his  wonderful  per- 
severance in  following  up  such  an  idea, — laying  it 
down  in  the  face  of  an  obtruding  obstacle,  and  taking 
it  up  again,  sometimes  months,  nay,  years  afterward, — 
when  he  plainly  saw  that  the  thing  "could  not  be," 
there  was  no  gloomy  reaction;  both  his  faith  and  the 
buoyancy  of  his  spirit  yielded  a  cheerful  acquiescence. 

This  peculiarity  of  his  temperament  was  signal,  and 
had  much  to  do  with  the  amount  of  work  he  achieved. 
His  fertility  of  mind  in  plans  and  projects  seemed  in- 
exhaustible. Not  a  hundredth  part  of  his  conceptions 
came  to  shape,  yet  rarely  any  were  wholly  unfeasible 
or  without  some  high  and  holy  end ;  but  they  were  im- 
practicable in  the  nature  of  human  things  to  a  sin- 
gle life  with  the  ordinary  allotment  of  auxiliary  agen- 
cies. Far  into  old  age  these  creations  were  produced 
no  less  frequently  than  in  earlier  days :  "  Let  me  tell 
you," — he  would  say  to  the  friend  who  for  the  last 


90  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

twenty  or  thirty  years  of  his  pilgrimage  was  never 
very  far  from  him, — "let  me  tell  you  what  I  have 
been  pleasing  myself  with,"  and  then,  with  his  coun- 
tenance all  aglow  with  the  light  which  was  quenched 
only  with  his  life,  he  would  set  forth  some  noble  or 
ingenious  scheme,  always  for  the  good  of  his  fellows 
or  the  advancement  of  the  church — always  to  do  good. 
Too  often  the  reply,  in  such  cases  would  be,  "  A  beau- 
tiful plan,  but  you  can  not  undertake  it.  It  is  useless 
to  think  of  it,  because — thus — and  so."  And  with  what 
sweetness  and  humility  would  he  take  the  rebuff,  some- 
times using  a  little  pleasantry,  to  reassure  his  collo- 
quist;  as  thus:  "I  see,  I  see!  You  are  right;  we 
can't  do  unlimited  good  with  limited  means.  My  little 
bird  hops  upon  a  bough  and  trills  away  his  ltu-tweet, 
turtweet!1  you  shake  your  head  at  him,  and  .down  he 
drops — dead!  Thank  you.  Always  keep  me  straight," 
It  would  be  hard  to  find  in  the  annals  of  Christendom, 
a  saint  more  single  in  heart  and  aim  and  more  simply 
submissive  to  God's  will  than  was  this  great  soul;  and 
so,  when  he  found  himself  being  "carried  away"  by 
some  new  work,  he  would  strenuously  fold  the  wings 
of  his  enthusiasm,  and  entering  into  his  closet,  search- 
ingly  try  himself,  whether  the  thing  were  of  God,  or 
of  his  own  will  and  fancy  only.  The  opposition  of  his 
relatives, — "as  loving  a  mother,  sister,  and  brother,  as 
ever  lived"  (so  he  wrote), — to  his  Flushing  plans  in- 
tensified his  self-searching  as  to  that  particular  work; 
and  in  the  period  between  his  first  thought  of  the  Insti- 
tute and  the  actual  "  breaking  ground  "  for  the  building, 


NOT  RESPECTABLE    ENOUGH.  91 

he  gave  much  time  to  the  satisfying  of  his  conscience, 
and  also  to  endeavors  to  reconcile  his  family.  This  last 
without  success.  They  esteemed  what  he  wanted  to  do 
as  not  sufficiently  respectable — as  in  fact  an  abandon- 
ment of  the  ministry. 

His  mother  naturally  dreaded  the  burden  he  was 
about  to  assume,  apprehending  the  trouble  and  re- 
sponsibility he  must  incur  in  such  an  undertaking. 
Further,  she  thought  him  qualified  to  distinguish  him- 
self in  the  pulpit,  and  not  unreasonably  feared  that 
"in  keeping  school,"  as  she  phrased  it,  he  would  give 
up  preaching.  In  vain  he  tried  to  show  her  that  he 
was  "  about  to  make  an  important  experiment  in  edu- 
cation, which,  if  it  succeeded,  would  be  unbounded  in 
its  blessed  influences."  She  could  not  be  persuaded. 
Nor  is  this  surprising,  taking  into  account  the  estima- 
tion in  which  the  calling  was  then  held,  and  that  she 
had  not  the  prophetic  intuition  to  discern  that  it  was 
he  who  was  to  make  the  school-master's  office  honor- 
able in  his  own  person,  to  arouse  the  church  to  the 
dignity  and  importance  of  the  work  of  education,  and 
in  the  methods  he  should  originate  to  establish  new 
and  Christian  relations  between  the  teacher  and  the 
scholar,  thus  far  too  often  mutually  regarded  as  nat- 
ural enemies. 

We  have  data  for  picturing  him  as  he  then  stood 
before  his  mother  in  the  prime  of  young  manhood: 
goodly  in  form  and  presence,  with  a  countenance  of 
mingled  sweetness  and  nobleness,  rich  waves  of  dark 
hair  shading  the  well-set  head  and  broad  brow,  deep- 


92  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS   MUHLENBERG. 

set  penetrating  eyes,  large  mouth  and  chin  completing 
well  the  face  as  indicating  the  strength  there  was  in 
his  character,  and  a  voice  of  rare  power  and  flexibility. 
This  of  the  outer  man — as  to  intellectual  and  spiritual 
gifts,  she  knew  him  to  possess  a  cultivated  mind,  quick 
intuitions,  a  poetic  imagination,  keen  but  chastened 
wit,  and  a  tender,  sympathetic  nature;  all  sanctified 
from  his  boyhood  up  by  the  evident  grace  of  God  in 
heart  and  life.  Was  it  surprising  she  should  exclaim, 
"William,  you  a  school-master!" 

The  surrender  of  himself  to  Christian  education  was 
an  era  in  his  life ;  he  recognized  it,  and  his  affectionate 
heart  longed  for  the  sympathy  both  of  his  natural  kin- 
dred and  of  his  brethren  in  the  household  of  faith.  But 
in  the  beginning,  in  neither  particular  was  his  wish 
granted. 

We  have  seen  how  little  encouragement  his  rela- 
tives gave  him;  referring  to  his  fellow-clergymen,  he 
wrote : 

"Brother  0 only  laughs  at  my  scheme;  Brother 

W cares  nothing  about  it;  Brother  M seems 

pleased  with  the  thing,  and  has  little  doubt  of  its 
success.  But  there  is  not  much  use  in  going  about 
asking  the  opinions  of  different  persons,  for  every  body 
is  so  much  interested  in  his  own  concerns,  he  has  little 
time  or  inclination  to  consider  any  thing  else  with 
more  than  momentary  attention.  I  trust  I  embark  in 
the  attempt  with  an  eye  to  the  glory  of  God,  and  the 
best  interest  of  my  fellow  creatures;  I  may  therefore 
humbly  hope  for  success. 


FOUNDATION   OF  SUCCESS.  93 

"'But  I  can  only  spread  my  sail, 

Thou,  thou,  must  breathe  th'  auspicious  gale.'" 

"When  the  building  was  near  completion,  we  find  the 
following : 

"  0  Lord,  do  thou  look  down  in  favor  upon  this  devo- 
tion of  myself  to  thy  service,  as  I  humbly  hope  it  is ! 
Let  zeal  for  thine  honor  consume  every  impure  motive 
with  which  I  may  be  actuated.  Let  my  eye  be  single, 
and  since  I  believe  I  can  best  serve  thee  in  the  way 
before  me,  let  me  be  decided  and  persevering.  Endow 
me  with  the  qualities  proper  for  my  office.  Make  me 
firm  in  the  exercise  of  discipline,  yet  always  tender 
and  compassionate.  I  would  obey  the  precept  of  my 
Kedeemer,  to  'feed  his  lambs.'  Like  him,  may  I 
gather  'them  in  my  arms  and  carry  them  in  my 
bosom.'  Make  me  industrious,  uniform  in  my  temper, 
and  continually  mindful  of  the  end  of  the  work  I  have 
taken  in  hand.  Let  me  continually  be  looking  to  thee 
for  direction  and  strength.  And,  O  my  gracious  Lord, 
wilt  thou  deign  to  accept  my  services.  Wilt  thou  take 
me  as  an  instrument  of  thy  glory.  I  am  unworthy, 
utterly  unworthy,  of  the  honor,  yet,  as  thou  dost  ac- 
complish thy  purposes  through  the  lowest  of  thy  creat- 
ures, thou  mayest  accept  of  me;  thou  may'st  employ 
me  to  turn  many  to  righteousness — even  to  raise  up 
ministers  of  thy  word.  Lord,  if  I  know  myself,  I  ask 
no  higher  portion,  and  shouldest  thou  see  fit  to  confer 
it  upon  thy  servant,  to  thy  name, — 0  yes,  to  thy 
name,  not  to  a  poor  creature  enlightened,  directed, 
strengthened  only  by  thy  Spirit, — to  thy  name  be  the 


94  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

glory  through  Jesus  Christ.  For  his  sake  have  mercy 
upon  me.  For  his  sake  smile  upon  my  labors.  For 
his  sake  employ  me  in  thy  service.  For  his  sake 
sanctify  me  and  fit  me  for  everlasting  happiness. — 
Amen  and  amen!" 

"Mem. — In  order  to  free  myself  as  much  as  possible 
from  the  influence  of  improper  motive,  I  resolve  to  de- 
vote the  profits  of  the  Institute  to  the  cause  of  Chris- 
tain  Education  and  the  support  of  Christian  missions. — 
W.  A.  M." 

In  the  spring  of  1827,  he  greatly  enjoyed  a  fort- 
night's sojourn  among  his  former  charge  at  Lancas- 
ter, where  Mr.  Ives  was  then  rector.  Young  and  old 
greeted  him  most  affectionately,  overloading  him  with 
their  hospitalities.  He  preached  and  lectured  amongst 
them  once  more  with  an  emotion  inseparable  from  the 
associations  of  the  place,  visited  his  "dear  Sunday 
school,"  and  his  old  favorite  establishment,  the  public 
school,  where  he  had  the  satisfaction  to  find  his  modi- 
fied monitorial  system  answering  even  as  well  as  he 
had  anticipated.  He  observed  his  farewell  address  to 
the  children  on  the  text,  "Thou  God  seest  me,"  framed 
and  hung  up  in  very  many  of  the  houses.  The  demon- 
strations of  unfeigned  attachment  which  he  received, 
especially  from  the  young,  filled  his  mind  delightfully 
with  the  conviction  that  he  had  done  some  lasting 
good  in  Lancaster.  "If  the  prayers  of  babes  and 
sucklings  are  heard,"  he  writes,  "  I  may  hope  for  a 
blessing." 

During  his  stay  here,  he  met  an  unusual  number  of 


THE   NEWS   FROM  HARRISBURG.  95 

the  clergy,  as  they  passed  through  the  town  on  their 
way  to  Harrisburg,  for  the  election  of  an  Assistant 
Bishop  of  Pennsylvania.  Church  parties  there  were  at 
a  white  heat  on  the  subject.  There  was  great  excite- 
ment and  an  extraordinary  conflicting  of  choices  and 
expectations.  The  result  was  as  usual  in  such  a  post- 
ure of  affairs,  whether  political  or  ecclesiastical,  an  in- 
tense surprise,  even  to  the  bishop  elect  himself,  Dr. 
Henry  U.  Onderdonk.  Mr.  Muhlenberg's  own  prefer- 
ence had  been  strong  for  Dr.  Meade,  as  the  assistant 
of  his  beloved  Bishop  White,  now  nearing  his  eighti- 
eth year,  but  a  kindly  intimacy  had  grown  up  between 
himself  and  his  "hymn-colleague,"  and  seeing  the 
thing  was  done,  it  was  not  in  him  to  avoid  sympathiz- 
ing in  the  emotions  which  the  unexpected  advancement 
would  create.  He  hastened  to  convey  the  tidings  to 
Dr.  0.  himself,  and  thus  notes  the  interview: 

"May  12,  1827.  Arrived  in  New  York,  and  went 
directly  over  to  Brooklyn,  to  enjoy  the  treat  of  mak- 
ing Brother  Henry's  heart  right  glad.  Found  him  at 
home,  and  made  him  sit  down  patiently  to  hear  the 
news  from  Harrisburg.  To  his  guessing  who  the  elect- 
ed bishop  was,  I  continually  replied  it  was  some  one 
he  liked  still  better — 'A  man,'  I  told  him,  'after  his 
own  heart.'  After  keeping  him  in  suspense  for  a  while, 
telling  him  what  I  thought  of  the  individual,  that  he 
was  'too  high  a  churchman,'  an  'opponent  of  Bible 
Societies,'  etc., — thus  taking  the  opportunity  of  saying 
to  himself  what  I  had  said  of  him  to  others, — I  said, 
'Let  me  now  take  leave  of  you  as  a  fellow  presbyter 


96  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

and  fellow  hymn-monger,  and  salute  you  as   Henry, 
Bishop  of  Pennsylvania.' 

'"No? — •'  But  it  would  be  wrong  to  record  the  ex- 
pressions of  such  a  moment.  He  seemed  considerably 
affected,  and  received  the  intelligence,  I  thought,  like 
a  Christian  man." 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

1828-1835. 

Flushing  Institute  in  Operation. — Intensity  of  Religious  Conviction. — An 
Apostle  to  Youth. — Characteristic  Incident. — Theory  of  the  School. — 
Its  Government.— Secretary  Forsyth  and  the  Fourth  of  July. — Not 
Emulation  but  Christian  Endeavor. — System  of  Marks. — An  Evening 
in  the  Institute. — The  Church  Year. — His  Assistants. — Private  Inter- 
views with  Boys. — Unceasing  Efforts  for  their  Salvation. — Little  Prayers 
for  Little  Things.—  "Tabella  Sacra."— The  Rector's  Rules  for  Himself. 
—The  Little  Charity  Box.— Cold  Water  Treatment  of  a  Trick. 

THE  Institute  was  ready  for  occupation  in  the  spring 
of  1828,  and  its  doors  were  at  once  opened  for  the  ad- 
mission of  pupils.  Mr.  Muhlenberg  had  retained  the 
pastoral  charge  of  St.  George's,  Flushing,  beyond  his 
first  engagement,  but  now  relinquished  it  in  order  to 
be  wholly  free  for  his  chosen  work.  Nevertheless  he 
did  not  cease  from  an  active  Christian  interest  in  his 
former  flock  and  in  the  spiritual  welfare  of  the  neigh- 
borhood generally. 

But  education  he  felt  was  his  calling.  He  became  a 
master  in  the  art,  and  was  untiring  in  the  illustration 
of  his  subject.  Throughout  this  part  of  his  life,  and  as 
far  back  as  his  origination  of  the  public  school  in  Lan- 
caster, his  pen  was  continually  throwing  off  essays, 
letters,  suggestions,  etc.,  which,  judged  by  the  frag- 
ments that  remain  of  these  productions,  were  as  clear 


98  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS   MUHLENBERG. 

in  Christian  argument,  as  they  were  fresh  arid  original, 
and  full  of  a  common-sense  adaptation  of  their  princi- 
ples to  the  details  of  instruction. 

A  singular  intensity  of  religious  conviction  pervades 
all  that  he  says  and  does  as  an  educator.  His  Christi- 
anity seemed  to  be  the  entire  man,  rather  than  one  of 
the  elements  of  his  character.  It  imbued  all  that  he 
touched.  It  modelled  the  mechanism  as  well  as  in- 
spired the  life  of  his  school;  shaped  its  government; 
ruled  in  his  resistless  will,  which  was  never  self-will, 
and  controlled  alike  the  boyish  games  of  the  Grammar 
School,  and  the  higher  recreations  of  the  College.  Yet, 
in  its  manifestations  there  was  never  one  least  suspi- 
cion of  stereotyped  piety  or  perfunctoriness,  all  was  so 
natural,  so  grandly  simple  and  true. 

He  was  endowed  with  many  distinguishing  gifts,  any 
one  of  which  would  have  given  him  influence  among 
men ;  but  possibly  neither  his  genius  nor  wit,  his  poetic 
fancy  nor  the  strong  common  sense  and  originality  of 
his  words  and  ways  had  nearly  as  much  to  do  with  his 
remarkable  power  over  boys,  and  later  over  men  of  all 
sorts  and  conditions,  as  this  unfeigried  reality,  com- 
bined with  his  wonderful,  overflowing  love.  A  youth 
coming  for  the  first  time  within  his  influence  would  feel 
himself  inspired  by  a  strange  new  joy ;  an  awakening  to 
the  earnestness  of  life,  and  with  that,  to  a  sweet  sense 
of  holy  sympathy,  which  lifted  him  up  to  possibilities 
of  goodness  and  usefulness,  such  as  he  had  never  be- 
fore dreamed  could  be  his.  This  is  the  testimony  of 
many  of  his  pupils. 


AN  APOSTLE    TO   BOYS.  99 

His  forte  was  not  so  much  with  younger  boys,  as 
with  those  from  fifteen  to  twenty  years  of  age,  or 
through  "the  rapids,"  as  he  sometimes  called  this  pe- 
riod in  the  stream  of  their  earthly  existence.  A  tender, 
untiring  concern  for  such,  with  regard  to  their  moral 
and  religious  culture,  formed  an  integral  part  of  his 
ministry,  not  alone  while  giving  himself  pre-eminently 
to  the  work  of  education,  but  always,  and  to  youths 
of  every  degree.  To  a  multitude  of  these  he  has  been 
not  only  a  "  father-confessor,"  but  their  earthly  saviour. 
And  such  youths  would  come  to  him  with  a  freedom 
and  confidence,  as  though  his  fatherly  heart  were  theirs 
by  right;  while  many  of  maturer  years,  even  in  the 
course  of  a  long  acquaintance,  have  found  themselves 
unable  ever  quite  to  shake  off  a  certain  reverent  re- 
straint, inspired  perhaps  by  the  spiritual  atmosphere 
of  his  presence. 

A  strong  religious  influence  over  the  young  of  his 
own  sex,  was  a  predominant  feature  of  his  life.  We 
trace  the  beginning  of  it  in  the  story  of  his  boyhood, 
and  it  formed  one  of  the  most  striking  characteristics 
of  succeeding  years.  His  love  for  boys  never  waned. 
Whoever  or  whatever  might  occupy  his  attention,  he 
was  never  indifferent  to  a  demand  of  one  of  them 
upon  his  sympathy.  He  was  truly  an  apostle  to  them. 
What  other  could  speak  to  them  with  the  godly  wis- 
dom and  directness,  the  holy  plainness  and  frankness, 
and  the  measureless  love  that  he  did?  And  what  he 
accomplished  by  this  means,  how  many  young  souls  he 
thus  won  to  Christ,  who  are  now  themselves  sources 


100  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

and  centres  of  Christian  influence,  who  may  tell?  It 
is  hard  to  find  any  who  came  near  him  in  their  youth, 
that  in  speaking  of  him  now  is  not  forward  to  say, 
"No  one  ever  helped  me  so  much;  no  one  ever  did 
me  so  much  good." 

A  boy  was  rarely  any  length  of  time  in  his  presence 
without  being  drawn  almost  magnetically  to  his  side, 
and  then  one  kind  arm  would  go  up  and  around  the, 
youth's  neck,  and  the  other  hand,  perhaps,  be  laid  upon 
his  head,  in  that  benediction  which  he  had  a  way  of  his 
own  of  thus  expressing;  or  else,  according  to  another 
habit  peculiar  to  him,  be  passed  through  and  through 
the  boy's  hair,  as  though  seeing  what  he  was  made  of. 

At  one  time,  accidentally  coming  upon  him,  while 
thus  drawing  a  boy  to  his  heart,  these  words  were 
heard,  "  Say,  Down,  devil !  down,  devil !  "  The  youth 
with  kindled  eye  and  glowing  cheek  was  looking  up 
into  the  master's  face,  always  at  such  times  fullest 
of  that  heavenly  light  which  the  painter  Huntingdon 
has  called  his  "evangelic  look,"  and  it  was  plain  the 
younger  was  receiving  gratefully  from  the  elder  the 
counsel  he  needed  for  the  conquest  of  some  dominant 
bad  habit. 

The  theory  of  the  school  was  that  of  a  Christian  or 
church  family,  of  which  the  rector  was  the  father, 
his  school-sons  living  under  the  same  roof  and  eating 
at  the  same  table  with  him.  They  slept  in  large  dor- 
mitories, divided  into  curtained  alcoves  for  the  older 
boys,  thus  securing  them  some  privacy.  A  tutor  or 
prefect  always  slept  in  each  dormitory. 


PATERNAL,    YET   STRICT.  101 

The  pupils  were  divided  into  classes  as  to  their 
studies,  into  sections  for  discipline  and  domestic  order. 
Each  section  consisted  of  twelve  boys  under  a  prefect. 
This  was  to  prevent  the  promiscuous  herding  together 
of  large  numbers.  These  prefects  were  commonly  can- 
didates for  the  ministry.  They  were  young  enough  to 
be  able  to  sympathize  with  the  boys  and  take  part  in 
their  amusements,  yet  of  sufficient  intelligence  and 
firmness  of  principle  to  qualify  them  to  do  good  to 
their  charge,  both  by  precept  and  example.  They  were 
not  employed  in  teaching,  having  their  own  studies  to 
pursue  during  school  hours.  Their  duties  lay  mainly 
in  friendly  intercourse  with  the  boys  in  the  intervals 
of  classes,  and  in  headship  each  over  his  own  section, 
in  the  refectory  and  in  the  dormitory.  They  were  the 
elder  brothers  of  the  family. 

The  boys  prepared  their  lessons  in  a  large  study, 
which  was  their  common  room,  making  their  recita- 
tions in  separate  class-rooms.  For  the  first  ten  years, 
— that  is  until  the  development  of  the  Institute  into  a 
regular  college, — the  course  of  study  was  that  of  or- 
dinary high-schools  as  preparatory  to  college ;  later  St. 
Paul's  College  was  established  with  a  complete  fac- 
ulty of  professors  and  instructors  for  the  several  de- 
partments of  collegiate  education. 

The  government  was  paternal,  most  loving  and  con- 
siderate, yet  not  without  strictness.  Said  one  who  was 
for  years  under  its  rule,  "  Though  at  times  it  seemed 
hard,  men,  who  as  boys  were  under  his  care,  are  all 
ready  to  say,  '  It  was  good  for  us  in  youth  to  bear  the 


102  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

yoke  that  this  wise  master  imposed.'  Corporal  punish- 
ment was  rarely  resorted  to,  never  on  the  part  of  the 
principal,  except  at  the  request  of  the  offender.  "  I 
never  whipped  a  boy,"  he  said,  "unless  he  asked  me." 
It  was  perfectly  understood,  on  receiving  a  boy  from 
his  parents,  that  the  rector  claimed  the  right  to  re- 
turn such  scholar  if  for  any  reason  he  judged  it  best 
not  to  retain  him,  though  not  as  necessarily  dismissing 
him  in  disgrace;  and  boys  whose  conduct  had  made 
them  liable  to  this  exercise  of  the  rector's  discretion, 
not  unfrequently  asked  to  be  flogged  rather  than  sent 
away.  Bad  fellows  would,  unavoidably,  now  and  then 
get  in,  and  it  was  with  some  trouble  and  heart-ache 
they  were  gotten  out  again ;  but  Mr.  Muhlenberg's  in- 
dependence of  extraneous  control,  the  absence  of  all 
lucrative  motive  in  what  he  was  doing,  and  his  wise 
precaution  in  laying  down  the  conditions  of  admission 
and  continuance,  saved  him  from  a  multitude  of  vexa- 
tions and  annoyances,  arising  in  other  institutions  from 
the  presence  of  undesirable  scholars. 

He  distinctly  claimed  pre-eminence  of  authority  over 
the  boys  while  they  were  in  session,  which  was  for 
ten  consecutive  months,  requiring  that,  during  that  pe- 
riod, parental  control  should  be  delegated  to  him  and 
only  under  extraordinary  circumstances  did  he  allow  a 
visit  home,  except  at  the  regular  vacations ;  but  this  re- 
striction was  generously  set  off  by  a  very  liberal  hospi- 
tality in  welcoming  the  relatives  and  friends  of  the  boys 
as  guests  at  the  School.  A  thorough  and  guarded  edu- 
cation was  his  aim,  and  it  could  only  be  attained  by 


SECRETARY  FORSYTH.  103 

strenuously  resisting  any  interruption  of  study  or  dis- 
cipline during  the  school  term. 

It  is  told  that,  on  one  Fourth  of  July  the  then  Secre- 
tary of  State,  Mr.  Forsyth,  arrived  in  a  chartered  steam- 
boat at  the  private  dock  of  the  place,  expecting  to  take 
his  son,  at  that  time  a  pupil  in  the  College,  and  perhaps 
some  of  his  fellow-students,  for  an  excursion.  The 
school-father  had  his  own  plans  for  the  enjoyment  of 
the  nation's  holiday  by  his  adopted  family,  and  could 
not  consistently  comply  with  the  request.  The  manner 
and  ground  of  the  refusal  must  have  commended  them- 
selves to  the  honorable  secretary,  for  he  amiably  ac- 
cepted the  invitation  to  spend  the  day  with  his  son, 
and,  dismissing  the  steamboat,  threw  himself  cordially 
into  the  boys'  festivities.  Having  parted  with  his  con- 
veyance, he  was  set  on  his  way  home  in  the  afternoon 
of  the  day  by  means  of  the  large  six-oared  barge  of 
the  College,  whose  boy-crew,  with  their  tutor  captain, 
rowed  him  as  far  as  Harlem.  Before  leaving,  he  asked 
kindly  if  there  were  not  something  he  could  do  for 
them  in  Washington,  and  learning  they  had  no  post- 
office  of  their  own,  engaged  to  procure  one  for  them, 
and  did  so.  This  occurrence  was  after  the  removal  of 
the  establishment  to  College  Point  and  of  later  date 
than  the  period  of  which  this  chapter  mainly  treats. 

The  session  of  ten  months  included  all  the  great 
festivals  of  the  Church  Year,  but  no  exception  was 
made  as  to  leave  of  absence  for  their  celebration. 
Christmas,  Easter,  and  Whitsuntide  alike  found  the 
students  keeping  the  feast  in  their  school-home.  And 


104  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

these  days  were  rendered  so  enjoyable  there,  the  re- 
ligious services  were  made  to  illustrate  so  interestingly 
and  impressively  the  great  verities  of  the  Gospel  which 
they  commemorate,  and  the  household  arrangements 
were  ordered  so  kindly  and  generously,  and  with  so 
open-handed  an  hospitality,  that  parents  and  guardians 
learned  to  feel,  with  their  youthful  charge,  that  no- 
where else  could  they  find  the  festival  as  profitable  and 
delightful.  This,  especially  as  to  Christmas,  which  was 
invested  with  every  thing  that  could  give  it  a  sweet, 
home  aspect.  Among  those  who  would  resort  thither 
on  these  occasions  were  persons  of  very  different  shades 
of  Christian  opinion;  but  whether  Evangelical  or  An- 
glican, Presbyterian  or  Methodist  there  was  but  one 
sentiment  as  to  the  beauty  and  benefit  of  the  church 
seasons  thus  observed. 

Emulation  was  not  allowed  to  be  a  Christian  motive 
for  exertion  in  any  of  Dr.  Muhleriberg's  schools.  He 
considered  it  a  malevolent  principle,  the  ignoble  coun- 
terfeit of  aspiration  of  which  nothing  abidingly  good 
can  come.  Hence,  in  place  of  the  ordinary  methods  of 
prizes,  exciting  competition  where  one  alone  could  be 
the  victor,  he  instituted  a  system  of  marks  wherein  the 
highest  reward  was  obtainable  by  all.  Once  a  month, 
through  the  Journal  of  the  Institute,  there  appeared  in 
print,  and  was  sent  to  the  respective  parents  and  guar- 
dians, a  record  of  the  rank  in  the  separate  studies,  and 
in  assiduity  of  each  pupil ;  but  this  was  so  ingeniously 
arranged  that  the  signature  and  indication  of  standing 
affixed, — the  former  by  letters,  the  latter  by  numbers, 


CREAKING   BOOTS.  105 

— was  unintelligible,  save  to  the  individual  boy,  his 
tutors,  and  friends  at  home. 

An  abounding  consideration  for  his  boys,  in  little 
things  as  well  as  great,  was  a  striking  feature  of  Mr. 
Muhleriberg's  government.  Nothing  that  affected  their 
interest  was  too  insignificant  for  his  attention,  even  to 
the  sort  of  boots  he  wore,  which  were  always  rather 
heavy  and  creaking,  that  he  might  not  seem  to  steal 
upon  them  unawares.  And  in  their  griefs,  who  so  ten- 
der and  sympathizing  as  he  ?  One  of  the  younger  boys, 
son  of  Francis  S.  Key,  author  of  the  "Star  Spangled 
Banner,"  was  under  Mr.  Muhlenberg's  care  when  his 
father  died.  Tidings  of  the  event  came  late  in  the  day, 
with  a  request  for  the  boy  to  be  sent  home  the  next 
morning.  "Never,  if  you  can  help  it,  tell  bad  news 
at  night,"  was  a  life-long  maxim  with  Mr.  Muhlen- 
berg,  and  the  little  fellow  was  allowed  to  retire  undis- 
turbed with  the  rest,  while  the  devoted  school-father 
attended  himself  to  the  arrangements  necessary  for  an 
early  morning  start,  and  when  all  this  was  done,  he 
went  into  the  dormitory,  and  bowed  himself  in  prayer 
and  blessing  over  the  newly-made  orphan,  lying  peace- 
fully in  the  sweet  sleep  of  childhood. 

The  Monthly  Journal  of  the  Institute,  mentioned 
above,  was  a  pamphlet  of  some  twenty  pages,  com- 
prising a  mixture  of  information  for  parents  and  guar- 
dians, illustrations  of  the  principles  of  the  Institution 
for  the  boys  themselves,  interesting  items  of  public 
news,  specimens  of  literary  and  mathematical  achieve- 
ment on  the  part  of  the  students,  and  informing  or 


106  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS   MUHLENBERG. 

amusing  articles,  longer  or  shorter,  from  the  several 
instructors.  Among  some  old  surviving  numbers  of 
this  domestic  periodical  may  be  found,  now  and  again, 
contributions  from  the  rector  himself,  one  of  which  as 
showing  something  of  his  close  acquaintance  with  his 
boys,  and  how  in  every-day  matters  he  moved  amongst 
them,  is  of  interest  here.  It  is  an  actual  record  of  one 
of  his  evenings  in  the  Institute,  and  dated  January 
21st,  1834. 

"  Here  we  are  in  the  large  study — bona  fide — for  fact, 
not  fancy,  shall  guide  our  pen — we  are  going  to  write 
down  things  and  thoughts  just  as  they  are.  It  is  a 
little  after  seven,  and  the  bustle  of  returning  from 
tea  has  subsided.  The  boys  (for  so  we  call  the  long 
coat  of  eighteen  as  well  as  the  roundabout  of  twelve) 
are  at  their  desks;  except  the  junior  class,  who  have 
rooms  of  their  own,  and  the  junior  section,  who  have 
a  study  of  their  own.  The  instructors  are  at  a  meet- 
of  the  Eumathean  Society,  and  it  has  fallen  to  our  turn 
this  evening  to  'keep  the  study.'  Seated  at  one  of 
the  ordinary  desks,  for  there  is  no  pedagogic  throne 
in  the  room,  with  pen,  ink,  and  paper,  we  shall  be 
the  faithful  chronicler  of  the  important  events  of  the 
evening.  All  is  as  quiet  as  the  restlessness  of  sixty 
young  mercurials  will  allow.  The  business  of  the 
day  is  over,  and  the  evening  they  are  left  to  employ 
as  they  please,  provided  that  during  the  first  hour 
they  are  silent,  and  that  no  one  disturbs  his  neighbor. 
And  how  are  they  all  employed?  Students,  aspirants 
after  literary  fame,  they  are  communing  with  the 


AN  EVENING    IN   THE    INSTITUTE.  107 

master  minds  of  antiquity.  Not  satisfied  with  the  ac- 
quisitions of  the  day,  they  are  digging  still  deeper  in 
the  mines  of  classical  lore.  Their  grammars,  their 
lexicons,  and  their  text- books,  are  their  delight. — Your 
smile  of  incredulity,  gentle  reader,  rebukes  me,  and 
ends  me  back  to  the  unvarnished  truth.  There  is 
one  who  has  already  fallen  to  sleep:  tired  with  skat- 
ing in  the  afternoon,  he  has  taken  his  dictionary  for 
a  pillow,  and  in  his  dreams  is  repeating  his  pleasure 
on  the  pond.  There  is  a  fidget — a  perpetual  motion — 
now  he  stands  up — now  he  sits  down,  moving  about 
as  much  as  possible  within  the  precincts  of  his  liberty; 
presently  he  will  be  nodding,  too,  for  the  quicksilver 
of  his  nature  is  rather  in  his  body  than  in  his  mind, 
and  when  one  is  obliged  to  be  still  the  other  soon  sinks 
to  rest ;  a  book,  at  this  hour,  except  it  be  a  fairy  tale, 
operates  upon  him  like  an  opium  pill.  There  is  another 
devouring  the  Arabian  Nights,  whose  taste  will  be  con- 
siderably elevated  when  he  thinks  the  Iliad  superior 
to  Sinbad  the  Sailor,  or  the  Forty  Thieves.  I  pity  that 
poor  fellow  across  the  room,  who  sees  the  long  hour 
before  him  and  can  not  contrive  what  he  shall  do  with 
it.  Inclined  neither  for  books  nor  for  sleep,  he  is  mak- 
ing dumb  signs  to  another  at  an  opposite  desk,  who  is 
whittling  a  stick  for  the  want  of  some  better  entertain- 
ment, to  know  whether  he  will  play  at  draughts  with 
him  the  next  hour.  The  whittler  does  not  understand 
him,  so  he  has  gone  to  scribbling  his  question  on  a 
scrap  of  paper.  After  watching  for  an  opportunity,  he 
has  thrown  it  over  to  his  friend,  who  in  deciphering  it 


108  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

has  now  some  amusement  beside  his  stick  and  his  pen- 
knife. *  Mr.  ,'  I  say  to  one  leaning  on  his  elbow, 

4  Would  it  not  be  well  for  you  to  devote  a  part  of  your 
evenings  to  your  lessons,  that  you  may  stand  a  little 
higher  in  the  ranks?  Your  friends  are  mortified  in  see- 
ing your  signature  so  low  down.'  I  give  the  advice, 
as  physicians  do  medicine  to  an  incurable  patient,  more 
for  conscience'  than  for  hope's  sake.  Nature  seems  not 
to  have  designed  the  young  gentleman  for  a  scholar, 
and  yet  it  will  offend  his  parents  to  tell  them  that  any 
thing  more  than  a  plain  English  education  will  be 
wasted  on  him.  Besides,  what  shall  they  do  with  him 
for  a  few  years  to  come.  Turning  over  the  leaves  of 
Latin  and  Greek  books  is  at  least  an  innocent  employ- 
ment, and,  after  all,  his  instructors  may  be  mistaken; 
good  minds  are  sometimes  very  slow  in  unfolding :  the 
acorn  gives  no  promise  of  the  oak.  Now  yonder  little 
volatile  is  a  boy  of  talent,  and  would  make  a  fine  fel- 
low, if  his  mind  would  only  hold  still  long  enough  to 

receive  an  impression.     M is  preparing  a  hoop  for 

the  *  graces'  ;   C is  adjusting  one  of  the  buckles 

of  his  skates ;  B is  entertained  with  his  picture  in 

a  looking-glass,  etc.,  etc.  But  we  must  not  do  injustice 
to  our  adopted  family.  These  are  the  minority,  and 
if  they  are  not  turning  their  time  to  the  best  account, 
it  must  be  remembered  in  their  behalf,  that  business 
hours  are  over.  Their  recitations  during  the  day  make 
no  part  of  the  present  scene.  The  majority  are  so  quiet 
that  they  do  not  attract  our  attention,  and  hence  we 
have  little  to  say  concerning  them.  But  we  have  our 


AN  EVENING    IN   THE    INSTITUTE.  109 

eyes  on  students  in  earnest.  Some  with  works  of  use- 
ful information  or  entertaining  knowledge,  others  with 
their  classics  or  mathematics,  and  some  with  still  bet- 
ter books  are  making  a  profitable  use  of  their  time. 

"  The  bell-ringer  leaves  his  seat — a  general  move- 
ment of  impatience.  Three  tolls  of  the  bell  say  that 
the  hour  is  gone.  Not  much  mourning  at  its  decease. 
Every  one  shoots  from  his  place.  The  sleepers  awake. 
The  'graces,'  battledoor,  etc.,  are  all  in  motion.  The 
five  minutes  of  liberty,  bustle,  and  noise,  soon  fly  past, 
and  the  ringing  of  the  'big  bell,'  echoed  by  the  jin- 
gling of  the  'little  bell'  restores  the  study  to  order. 
'  The  letters !  the  letters ! '  How  many  bright  eyes 
of  expectation,  and  eager  voices  in  every  quarter  *  any 
thing  for  me?'  as  the  sprightly  post  boy  distributes 
his  packet.  '  It's  too  bad,'  says  one,  '  I  haven't  heard 
from  home  these  three  weeks;  I'll  not  write  again  until 
I  do  hear.'  While  some  glad  hearts  are  as  enraptured 
with  a  letter  from  home,  as  if  they  had  received  a  val- 
uable present.  Now  and  then  we  observe  one  who  will 
lay  aside  a  letter  even  from  'home,  sweet  home,'  and 
not  read  it  until  he  has  finished  his  play — a  worse  sign, 
by  far,  than  an  ill  recitation.  The  mail  has  brought 
a  favor  for  ourselves.  After  a  few  lines  of  introduc- 
tion we  read,  'How  is  coming  on?  We  should 

be  glad  to  hear  from  you  about  him,  as  often  as  it 
suits  your  convenience  to  write.  Your  silence  has  left 
us  in  suspense.'  Would  that  we  had  the  faculty  of 
Dr.  Dwight  for  dictating  to  three  amanuenses  at  once; 
for  then  we  might  communicate  with  parents  about 


110  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS   MUHLENBERG. 

their  sons  to  the  extent  of  their  wishes.  Our  numer- 
ous engagements  allow  us  to  do  but  little  in  this  way. 
We  make  it  a  rule,  however,  alway  to  answer  letters 
of  inquiry;  and  we  are  glad  also  to  receive  such  let- 
ters, as  they  serve  to  direct  our  attention  more  partic- 
ularly to  individual  boys.  We  hope  our  friends  wil 
understand  this;  and  there  is  another  thing,  on  this 
subject,  that  we  would  request  of  them,  which  is,  that 
they  will  not  measure  our  attention  to  their  children 
by  our  attention  to  them.  We  are  alive  to  the  respon- 
sibilities we  have  assumed.  Our  pupils  are  our  family. 
Between  them  and  us  there  are  no  intervening  objects 
either  of  interest  or  aifection.  That  we  are  not  forget- 
ful of  his  boy,  every  parent  or  guardian  should  feel  as- 
sured, although  he  may  not  receive  a  line  of  intelli- 
gence from  us  during  the  session.  To  take  care  of  our 
pupils  is  our  duty;  to  write  frequent  letters  about  them 
may  or  may  not  be  our  duty.  We  repeat  again,  that 
we  are  happy  in  receiving  communications  from  par- 
ents, inasmuch  as  they  serve  to  bring  particular  boys 
to  our  mind,  and  we  invariably  sooner  or  later  reply 
to  their  inquiries.  It  is  a  deficiency  in  making  volun- 
tary reports,  that  we  would  explain.* 

"But  we  have  wandered  from  the  study.  What  are 
the  boys  about?  'The  last  hour'  they  spend  ad  libitum 
with  an  extension  of  the  liberty  of  the  first  hour,  but 
not  to  their  leaving  the  room.  A  couple  here  are  play- 
ing at  checkers,  and  there  at  chess ;  a  few  keep  to  their 

*  The  monthly  reports  of  the  Journal  should  not  be  forgotten. 


AN  EVENING    IN   THE    INSTITUTE.  Ill 

books  if  the  rattling  tongues  and  restless  motion  of 
their  companions  will  permit  them;  for  the  majority 
prefer  talking  and  moving  about.  And  of  what  are 
they  talking  ?  What  are  the  themes  of  such  incessant 
discourse  ?  What  the  unfailing  excitement  of  such  con- 
stant clatter  ?  One  would  suppose,  that  secluded  from 
the  world,  and  forming  a  community  so  entirely  among 
themselves,  they  would  find  conversation  (to  use  one  of 
their  own  favorite  words)  rather  'stale.'  But  no,  it  is 
as  fresh  and  as  brilliant  at  mid-session,  as  when  they 
have  just  returned  from  the  novelties  of  the  vacation. 
Beside  the  music  of  tongues  we  have  the  piping  of  rare 
musicians;  a  dozen  flutes  are  going  in  all  the  varieties 
of  melody,  from  the  gamut  to  the  sonata.  In  one  corner 
two  are  playing  duos,  entertained  with  their  own  har- 
mony, regardless  of  the  Babel  of  tongues  and  the  chaos 
of  notes  around;  a  happiness  we  cordially  wish  every 
family  that  our  journal  visits. — The  bell  rings  out  an- 
other hour;  the  little  bell  calls  to  order,  and  all  is  per- 
fectly still  for  fifteen  minutes  before  repairing  to  the 
chapel — an  interval  of  quiet  appropriated  to  the  reading 
of  the  Holy  Scriptures.  Thoughts  here  possess  the 
mind  too  deep,  and  in  this  medley,  too  solemn  for  utter- 
ance. The  service  in  the  chapel  is  short.  The  boys 
hasten  back  to  the  studies  and  prepare  to  retire.  They 
linger  round  the  stoves,  talking  about  its  '  freezing  hard 
to-night,'  and  wondering  if  '  the  bay  will  be  frozen  over 
this  winter.'  With  'good-night,  good-night,'  we  give 
them  hints  to  be  gone.  Some  three  or  four  light  the 
lamps  at  the  desks,  and  by  permission  go  to  reading  or 


112  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS   MUHLENBERG. 

studying  again  until  the  bell  rings  ten.  The  rest  are 
away  to  the  dormitories — a  little  racket  on  the  stairs — 
here  and  there  a  straggler — and  the  house  is  still.  The 
solitary  lamp  diffuses  its  dim  light  through  the  dormi- 
tories— the  instructor  on  duty  paces  the  floor.  Some 
of  the  alcoves  we  trust  are  closets  of  prayer,  since 
there  are  bended  knees  beside  the  beds  without.  They 
slumber  quietly;  not  one  on  the  bed  of  sickness — Gra- 
tias,  Domine. — The  watchman  strikes  ten — the  curfew 
of  our  little  world." 

The  Chapel,  with  an  organ,  was  within  the  building, 
and  was  used  exclusively  for  divine  worship  morning 
and  evening  daily,  as  well  as  on  Sundays  and  other 
church  days.  Great  attention  was  given  towards  mak- 
ing the  services  and  instruction  interesting  to  the 
youthful  congregation;  and  the  different  seasons  of 
the  Church  Year  were  marked  by  appropriate  teaching 
and  observances  which  helped  the  design  of  their  ap- 
pointment. In  the  chapel  of  St.  Paul's  College  yet 
more  regard  was  paid  to  this  particular,  Dr.  Muhleii- 
berg  using  the  liberty  which  he  always  contended  for 
as  necessary  to  do  justice  to  the  Liturgic  worship  of 
the  church.  Of  these  pastoral  ministrations,  survivors 
from  among  those  young  disciples  have  spoken  with 
grateful  and  eloquent  remembrance;  telling  of  "his 
unequalled  reading  of  the  Scriptures,  and  of  the  im- 
pression made  upon  their  minds  by  his  sermons,  iii 
their  clear  simplicity,  their  poetic  fervor,  and  above 
all,  in  'the  strong  faith  in  Christ  which  made  real  to 
him  and  helped  him  to  make  real  to  others  the  narra- 


PERSONAL   INFLUENCE.  113 

tives  and  teachings  of  the  Bible  and  especially  of  the 
Holy  Gospels.'" 

He  was  assisted  in  the  different  branches  of  educa- 
tion by  able  professors  and  instructors,  Christian  gen- 
tlemen, who  set  a  good  example  to  the  scholars,  and 
some  of  whom  were  clergymen  subsequently  well- 
known  in  the  church.* 

The  faculty  of  the  College  eventually  consisted  al- 
most wholly  of  men  trained  by  himself,  school-sons  and 
pupils,  grown  to  be  church  brothers  and  instructors.! 
In  the  distribution  of  work,  the  rector  took  for  his 
own  department  of  tuition,  the  Evidences  and  Ethics  of 
Christianity,  Logic,  and  Rhetoric.  But  however  effec- 
tive Mr.  Muhleiibergs  official  teachings,  whether  in 
pulpit  or  class-room,  they  were  far  exceeded  in  value 
by  his  private  and  individual  instructions.  Undertak- 
ing the  work  as  he  did,  solely  for  the  purpose  of  gath- 
ering around  him  and  bringing  up  in  true  Christian 
nurture  a  family  of  adopted  sons,  his  personal  influ- 
ence would  necessarily  be  a  most  important  means 
towards  the  end  proposed,  and  he  relied  much  upon 
it,  differing  widely,  in  this  particular,  from  his  English 
contemporary,  Dr.  Arnold  of  Rugby,  with  whom  he  is 
often  compared.  The  two  great  educators  had  many 

*  Among  these  may  be  named  the  Rev.  Drs.  Samuel  Seabury,  Chris- 
tian F.  Cruse',  Samuel  Koosevelt  Johnson,  and  Francis  L.  Hawks. 

f  The  most  prominent  of  these  were  the  Kev.  James  B.  Ker- 
foot,  afterwards  Bishop  of  Pittsburg;  Kev.  Libertus  Van  Bokkelen; 
Rev.  J.  G.  Barton;  Rev.  Milo  Mahan  and  Rev.  Joseph  C.  Pass- 


114  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

points  of  resemblance  between  them,  but  Dr.  Arnold 
knew  almost  nothing  individually  of  his  charge,  those 
of  the  Sixth  Form  excepted,  and  not  unfrequently  "  a 
boy  would  leave  Kugby  without  any  personal  commu- 
nication with  him  at  all."*  Mr.  Muhlenberg,  on  the 
contrary,  took  the  greatest  pleasure  in  private  inter- 
views with  his  pupils.  It  may  be  said,  indeed,  that 
such  were  among  his  chief  delights. 

The  natural  affection  so  strong  within  him  and  held 
back,  through  his  supreme  self-consecration,  from  ex- 
pending itself  in  the  ordinary  channels  of  human  love, 
was  poured  out  upon  these  boys  with  well-nigh  par- 
ental fondness.  So  endearing  were  his  ways  to  them, 
one  by  one,  that  each  was  apt  to  think  himself  an  es- 
pecially beloved  and  favorite  pupil.  But  it  was  always 
with  their  salvation  prominent  as  the  great  end  of  his 
interest  in  them.  Evidences  of  this  remain  in  a  mul- 
titude of  ways;  most  fully,  perhaps,  in  his  own  jour- 
nals, which  were  more  extensively  and  regularly  kept 
throughout  this  period  than  in  the  other  parts  of  his 
life.  Their  pages  month  after  month  and  year  after 
year  record  hopes  and  fears,  progress  or  the  contrary, 
now  of  this  lad,  now  of  that,  following  them  often  in 
their  career  after  they  ceased  to  be  members  of  his 
household,  and  breaking  out  continually  in  importu- 
nate prayers  for  them  as  they  pass  in  turn  mentally 
before  him.  Such  records  are  sacred. 

The  following  memoranda  of  encouragement  and  the 

*  Dr.  Arnold's  Life  and  Correspondence. 


HOPES   AND    FEARS.  115 

contrary,  are  but  meagrely  illustrative  of  what  is  re- 
ferred to. 

".  .  .  I  desire  to  thank  God  for  .  After  all, 

the  seed  sown  was  not  in  vain.  He  seemed  to  be 
proof  against  all  religious  appeals  as  much  as  any 
boy  I  have  ever  had.  .  .  His  correspondence  with 
me  is  a  good  sign." 

" and came  for  the  first  time  to  Holy  Com- 
munion to-day — Oh!  these  children  whom  thou  hast 
given  me — what  rapture  to  my  soul  to  see  them  gather 
before  thy  altar." 

"...  I  keep  my  appointment  with  my  former 
pupil — to  meet  him  at  this  hour  in  prayer.  0  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  bless  him  and  make  him  a  trophy  of  re- 
deeming love.  Holy  Spirit,  overcome  his  pride,  his  stub- 
born self-will.  0  shine  into  the  darkness  of  his  heart. 
....  Spent  an  hour  in  conversation  and  prayer 
with  .  He  wishes  to  consecrate  his  life  as  a  mis- 
sionary. 0  God,  I  thank  thee,  I  bless  thee,  I  glorify 
thee  that  in  thy  Sovereign  grace  thou  dost  dispose  one 
of  my  spiritual  children  towards  this  highest  exercise 
of  the  Christian  ministry.  Oh  bless  him  and  conse- 
crate him  with  the  unction  of  thy  Spirit."  " "  (a 

dismissed  pupil)  "left  this  morning;  he  would  show 
more  generous  feeling  but  that  his  conscience  is  bur- 
dened with  a  lie." 

"  Returned  from .  Alas,  I  fear  that  after  all 

will  riot  do  well.  Oh,  he  has  been  the  child  of  many, 
many  prayers.  I  am  cut  to  the  heart  when  I  see  him 
less  and  less  thoughtful,  and  more  and  more  inclined 


116  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

to  the  indulgences  of  the  world.  Mem. — pray  daily  for 
him.  .  .  ." 

There  seems  to  have  been  no  limit  to  the  pains  he 
bestowed  upon  this  part  of  his  ministry.  In  season  and 
out  of  season,  he  wrought  for  the  spiritual  good  of  his 
boys,  and  his  iterated  and  earnest  prayers,  for  and  with 
them,  were  accompanied  by  a  multitude  of  ingenious 
methods  and  contrivances  for  the  enforcement  of  his 
holy  lessons.  The  filial  piety  of  one  who  became  an 
endeared  assistant  has  preserved  an  example  of  one 
such  device.  It  consists  of  a  number  of  tiny  sheets  or 
leaflets,  beautifully  written  by  his  own  hand,  and  en- 
titled "  Little  prayers  for  little  things."  They  are  brief 
reflections  and  ejaculations,  evidently  penned,  from  time 
to  time,  for  every-day  use,  as  needed.  In  a  short  pref- 
ace the  master  says  to  his  disciple, 

"They  are  not  prescribed  for  the  occasions  men- 
tioned, but  are  given  as  a  specimen  of  the  manner 
in  which  a  spiritual  mind  will  delight  to  be  ascend- 
ing continually  to  God  in  every  occupation  and  seek- 
ing grace  in  the  smallest  matters Into  the 

bosom  of  his  spiritual  child  his  father  would  breathe 
his  own  daily  aspirations  to  the  throne  of  grace. 
May  the  same  blessed  Spirit  breathe  into  the  hearts 
of  both.  '  Soli  Deo  Gloria ! ' '  There  are  over  forty 
of  these  little  prayers,  from  which  the  subjoined  are 
selected. 

"  On  waking  up  in  the  morning.  My  gracious  Benefac- 
tor, I  consecrate  my  recruited  energies  to  thee.  I 
wake  to  duty.  In  thy  service  only  let  all  the  strength 


LITTLE   PRAYERS   FOR   LITTLE    THINGS.         117 

thou  hast  given  me  be  employed,     Thou  hast  made  me 
thy  creature,  0  make  me  thy  willing  servant." 

"  While  dressing.  While  I  am  careful  to  appear  de- 
cently clad  before  my  fellow  worms,  shall  my  soul  be 
left  naked,  or  in  the  rags  of  sin  before  the  King  of 
kings?  I  am  soon  to  go  into  his  presence-chamber, 
0  then,  may  I  be  dressed  in  the  golden  robes  of  the 
righteousness  of  Christ." 

"  When  plagued  by  bad  thoughts.  Get  thee  hence,  Sa- 
tan— I  ask  none  of  thy  entertainment — I  know  thy 
arts.  I  know  thy  methods  of  approach.  In  the  name 
of  my  Saviour  I  bid  thee  begone.  Tempter,  away! 
And  now,  0  Lord,  for  the  fulfilment  of  thy  promise, 
'  Resist  the  devil  and  he  will  flee  from  thee ! ' " 

"  At  meals.  May  I  never  be  choice  or  dainty  in  my 
food,  remembering  that  thy  dearest  saints  have  lived 
on  the  coarsest  fare.  If  I  never  have  luxuries,  make 
me  contented  without  them,  and  if  thou  dost  set  them 
before  me,  I  will  partake  of  them  with  moderation  and 
gratitude." 

"  On  receiving  praise.  Let  me  not  be  flattered  by  the 
praise  of  men.  They  can  see  only  my  outside  virtue 
and  riot  my  inside  sin.  I  thank  them  for  their  good 
opinion.  Lord,  help  me  to  deserve  it  better,  but  never 
let  it  for  an  instant  keep  me  from  seeing  my  sinful- 
ness  in  thy  sight." 

"At  noon.  How  is  the  day  going?  Have  I  once 
thought  of  God  since  I  was  on  my  knees  this  morn- 
ing? If  I  never  lift  up  my  heart  at  mid-day,  I  may 
fear  that  my  morning  and  evening  prayers  are  mere 


118  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

matters  of  course.  My  soul,  canst  thou  not  find  a 
moment  for  thy  Saviour  at  noon?" 

Another  packet  of  little  sheets  is  called — "Helps  to 
to  pray  without  ceasing,"  and  consists  of  a  series  of 
reflections  on  diiferent  passages  of  Scripture,  of  which 
the  following  is  an  example: 

"  'He  that  loveth  is  born  of  God.'  0  then,  do  I  love? 
It  is  the  very  sign  of  my  regeneration.  I  think  I 
can  say,  'Yea,  Lord,  thou  knowest  that  I  love  thee — ' 
but  how  feeble  the  glow!  It  has  been  kindled  I 
trust  from  above,  but  how  dim  the  light !  how  cold  the 
fire !  how  flickering  the  flame !  Holy  Spirit,  from  thee 
the  spark  first  came — 0  breathe  upon  it — blow  upon 
it — or  amid  folly  and  impurity  I  fear  it  will  expire. 
Let  me  seek  the  truth  on  which  it  feeds.  Let  my 
highest  care  and  chief  anxiety  be  that  love  may  burn 
in  my  soul  warmer  and  brighter,  and  shine  more  and 
more  unto  the  perfect  day.  Let  me  know  that  I  love, 
that  I  may  know  I  am  born  of  God." 

The  foregoing  exemplifies  but  one  of  his  meth- 
ods, and  that  for  a  more  advanced  learner.  His 
expedients  varied  with  the  varying  temperaments 
and  needs  of  his  charge.  Sincerely  fighting  "the 
good  fight"  himself,  he  was  well-skilled  in  equip- 
ping these  young  recruits  with  the  weapons  best 
suited  to  them. 

Further,  for  all  who  were  disposed  to  avail  them- 
selves of  it,  there  was,  every  Thursday  evening,  a  vol- 
untary religious  meeting  in  the  chapel;  and  before 
each  vacation  a  "Tabella  Sacra,  or  Table  of  Daily 


THE  LAST  DAY  OF  THE  YEAR.        119 

Scripture  Reading,"  was  issued,  as  an  incentive  both 
to  keep  up  the  sacred  duty  during  the  holidays,  and 
also  to  promote  a  feeling  of  unity  among  the  scholars 
during  their  separation.  The  voluntary  meetings  were 
ordinarily  well  attended,  and  a  spirit  of  piety  at  times 
prevailed,  not  common  to  schools. 

The  last  day  of  the  year  was  spent  by  the  boys  in 
putting  their  desks  in  order  and  getting  all  things 
ready  for  a  good  beginning  of  the  New  Year.  In  the 
evening  there  was  a  penitential  religious  service.  The 
names  of  all  those  who  had  ever  been  at  the  school 
were  called,  those  present  who  could  give  any  account 
of  old  scholars  were  encouraged  to  do  so,  and  in  con- 
clusion all  present,  together  with  all  who,  in  any  way, 
or  at  any  time,  had  made  part  of  the  Institute  house- 
hold, were  earnestly  remembered  in  prayer.  Later, 
a  midnight  watch  was  held  by  the  adults  of  the  school 
family,  in  which  they  "  saw  the  old  year  out,"  in  pro- 
longed confession  of  sin,  followed  by  silent  prayer,  until 
the  bell  rang  twelve,  when  a  full  joyous  "Gloria  in 
Excelsis"  ushered  in  the  New  Year. 

A  solemn  observance  of  the  last  night  of  the  year 
was  a  practice  of  Mr.  Muhlenberg's  life,  from  youth  to 
extremest  old  age,  and  frequently  the  sons  and  pupils 
of  earlier  days,  who  could  not  be  with  him  in  body, 
would  unite  spiritually  in  the  accustomed  devotions. 
Some  of  these  will  remember,  too,  how  on  New  Year's 
Day,  he  would,  again  and  again,  ring  out  Charles 
Wesley's  lines — 


120  ,  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS   MUHLENBERG. 

"Come,  let  us  anew,  our  journey  pursue— 

Koll  round  with  the  year, 
And  never  stand  still,  till  the  Master  appear 
His  adorable  will,  let  us  gladly  fulfil, 

And  our  talents  improve 
By  the  patience  of  hope,  and  the  labors  of  love." 

A  constant  upward  endeavor  was  the  keynote  of  his 
long  service. 

This  faithful  master  laid  down  rules  for  himself  as 
well  as  for  his  pupils.  In  his  private  diary  of  this 
date,  after  certain  retrospective  meditations,  we  find, 
among  other  self-admonishings,  the  following: 

"Never  be  in  bed  after  five  o'clock.  It  is  of  the 
utmost  importance  that  all  the  duties  of  the  morning 
relating  to  the  body  or  the  soul  be  performed  early. 
Lift  up  your  voice  in  a  song  of  gratitude  to  God  and 
rejoice  like  the  sun  to  run  the  course  of  another  day. 
Let  not  your  morning  prayers  be  hurried,  the  day  will 
depend  on  them Bear  with  the  thought- 
lessness and  frowardness  of  your  adopted  children ;  re- 
member that  they  are  but  children,  even  the  oldest  of 
them,  that  therefore  they  need  all  the  forbearance  and 
condescension  you  can  exercise.  Remember  that  their 
tastes  and  yours  are  different.  Remember  that  you 
have  meat  to  eat  which  they  know  not  of.  Have  pa- 
tience to  give  line  upon  line  and  precept  upon  precept 
— remember  how  slow  you  have  been  to  learn  of  God, 
and  therefore  wonder  not  that  they  are  slow  to  learn  of 
you.  Be  impartial.  Have  no  favorites.  Guard  against 
overlooking  retired  boys, — and  against  neglecting  those 


THE   LITTLE    CHARITY  BOX.  121 

who  are  unpleasant  in  their  intercourse  with  you. 
Your  affection  for  them  should  be  enlightened  Chris- 
tian charity,  not  attachment  founded  on  personal  attrac- 
tions or  any  earthly  consideration.  Let  your  love  for 
^  them  show  itself  not  by  playing  or  fondling  with  them, 
but  by  uniform  kindness  of  manner  and  steady  en- 
deavors to  do  them  good.  Kecollect  that  some  of  the 
dull  or  unpleasant  boys,  to  whom  you  say  compara- 
tively little,  may  after  all  be  those  who  will  have 
derived  most  benefit  from  the  School;  take  care  then 
not  to  overlook  them.  .  .  Have  no  idols.  .  .  0 
my  blessed  Saviour,  may  I  be  in  thy  company  all  the 
day  long.  May  I  walk  close  behind  thee,  holding  the 
skirt  of  thy  garment,  treading  in  every  track  of  thy 
footsteps.  0,  never  desert  me.  Leave  me  not  a  mo- 
ment alone.  Without  thee  I  stumble  and  fall." 

He  was  most  unsparing  of  his  own  faults,  even  before 
his  scholars,  where  they  were  concerned  in  the  circum- 
stance. One  of  them,  a  young  man  very  dear  to  him, 
tells  that  after  receiving  on  a  certain  day  a  severe  re- 
buke, Mr.  Muhlenberg  at  night  put  into  his  hand  a  lit- 
tle box  containing  money  and  a  brief  note  in  which 
he  deplored  that  he  had  "lost  his  temper  in  the  morn- 
ing, and  spoiled  his  admonition  by  impatient  tones  and 
ugly  looks."  The  note  went  on  to  say,  "These  accounts 
are  not  to  be  settled  between  ourselves,  but,  as  a  peace- 
offering,  let  me  give  you  this  Charity  Box,  to  which  I 
will  add  something  every  time  I  offend  in  a  similar  way 
and  about  the  use  of  which  I  promise  not  to  inquire. 
By  this  penance  of  love,  my  infirmities  may  at  least  be 


122  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS   MUHLENBERG. 

the  occasion  of  your  benevolence.  .  .  .  ."  This  lit- 
tle box  and  note  have  been  preserved.  The  arrange- 
ment was  undoubtedly  a  genuine  expression  of  his 
grief  and  humility,  but  it  may  have  been,  along  with 
this,  one  of  his  loving  and  ingenious  ways  for  impress- 
ing upon  the  mind  of  his  dear  scholar  the  ground  of 
said  reproof,  viz.,  the  fault  he  desired  him  to  watch 
against  and  correct.  It  would  be  like  him  that  it 
should  be  so.  Nor  would  he  have  minded  sacrificing 
what  some  would  call  their  dignity  to  such  an  end. 

He  could  exercise  a  little  muscular  Christianity  at 
need.  One  of  the  students  attempted  a  practical  joke 
upon  him  by  walking  into  his  chamber  at  midnight,  in 
the  regulation,  long,  white  bedgown,  as  a  somnambu- 
list. Mr.  Muhlenberg  instantly  penetrated  the  disguise, 
and  springing  out  of  bed  grappled  the  youth  tightly 
and  drew  him  to  the  wash-stand,  where  stood  a  large 
ewer  full  of  water,  the  whole  contents  of  which  he  dis- 
charged upon  his  head.  The  discomfited  lad  slank 
away  as  fast  as  he  could.  He  had  anticipated  great 
fun  in  telling  his  comrades  the  next  morning  how 
finely  he  had  scared  the  rector,  but  this  complete  turn- 
ing of  the  tables  made  him  thankful  for  the  forbear- 
ance which  withheld  all  comment  regarding  the  night's 
exploit. 


CHAPTER    IX. 

1835-1839- 

Preparations  for  St.  Paul's  College. — Repute  as  an  Educator.— Reply  to 
Bishop  Doane's  Proposal. — Purchase  of  a  Farm  near  Flushing. — Suc- 
cess of  the  Institute. — Ten  Thousand  Dollars  of  Debt.— His  Mother's 
Aid. — No  Thought  of  Surrender. — Ultimately  met  his  Expenses. — 
Scenery  of  College  Point.— Laying  a  Corner-stone  that  Received  no 
Super-structure.— Enduring  Work  of  St.  Paul's  College.— Why  the  Per- 
manent College  Edifice  was  not  Built. — A  Noble  Principle  of  Action. — 
Plans  for  a  Sojourn  in  Europe. — His  Brother's  Unexpected  Death.— 
Characteristics  of  Dr.  Frederick  A.  Muhlenberg. — Grief  and  Tenderness 
of  Survivor. — Turns  to  Work  Again. — Temporary  Buildings  Erected. — 
St.  Paul's  College  Begun. — Principles  and  Discipline  of  the  Same. — The 
Rector's  Increase  of  Care. — Divine  Support. — Tenor  of  Daily  Inter- 
course with  Students. — Tact  in  Dealing  with  Them. — Skilful  Moral 
Probing. 

THE  development  of  his  work  into  a  thoroughly-ap- 
pointed college  with  buildings  and  grounds  of  its  own, 
had  always  been  an  essential  part  of  Dr.*  Muhlenberg's 
plan,  and  for  a  year  or  more  previous  to  the  date  of 
this  chapter  he  had  been  looking  in  different  local- 
ities for  a  suitable  site.  When  it  transpired  that  he 
purposed  a  change,  the  impression  he  had,  even  thus 
early,  made  as  an  educator,  became  strikingly  ap- 
parent. He  was  solicited  in  various  directions  to  ac- 

*  About  this  time  (1836)  he  received  his  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity 
from  Columbia  College,  N.  Y. 


124  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

cept  the  control  of  one  and  another  important  insti- 
tution of  learning,  or,  again,  to  establish  himself  in 
this  or  that  diocese  for  the  founding  of  his  own  col- 
lege. Among  the  latter  proposals  was  one  from  Bishop 
Doane  of  New  Jersey,  his  reply  to  whom  is  very  char- 
acteristic. After  a  courteous  acknowledgment  of  the 
bishop's  kind  letter,  and  a  wish  that  his  school  really 
deserved  the  esteem  expressed  for  it,  he  goes  on  to 
say:  ".  .  .  .  Whenever  I  have  contemplated  a  re- 
moval, it  has  always  been  to  the  northward.  Politi- 
cal considerations  induce  me  to  prefer  New  England, 
and  somewhere  on  the  Sound,  in  Connecticut,  has  been 
long,  in  my  imagination,  the  ultimate  location  of  my 
college.  Candor,  however,  dictates  another  answer. 
The  seminary  proposed  for  your  diocese,  doubtless  is 
designed  to  be  subject  to  specific  ecclesiastical  control. 
I  am  never  restless  under  government,  but  such  ar- 
rangement might  interfere  materially  with  the  prosecu- 
tion of  my  plans,  and  would  impair  too  much  my  free- 
dom of  action  in  the  enterprise.  Attachment  to  the 
Episcopal  Church  and  submission  to  her  proper  author- 
ity will,  I  hope,  always  characterize  any  institution  of 
which  I  may  have  the  charge,  but  the  security  for  these 
must  be  found  only  in  the  consistency  of  my  character 
as  an  Episcopalian — whatever  it  may  be — and  in  my 
duty  as  a  Presbyter  of  the  church.  In  a  word,  I  prefer 

the   independence   of  a  private  Institution " 

This  letter  is  dated  Oct.  4,  1834. 

At  length,  what  he  sought  was  found  close  at  hand, 
in  a  farm  of  a  hundred  and  seventy-five  acres,  lying 


COLLEGE   POINT  PURCHASED.  125 

along  the  East  River,  north  of  Flushing,  on.  part  of 
which  now  stands  the  village  known  as  "College 
Point,"  the  name  he  then  gave  to  his  purchase.  He 
afterwards  disposed  of  a  portion  of  the  land,  leaving 
about  one  hundred  acres  for  the  college  territory. 

The  Flushing  Institute  had  been  an  entire  success. 
In  its  last  year,  the  applications  for  admission  doubled 
that  of  any  preceding  one,  and  from  the  extent,  un- 
solicited, of  this  confidence  in  his  methods,  he  assured 
himself  that  the  funds  requisite  for  constructing  a  sub- 
stantial permanent  edifice  would  be  easily  obtained. 

He  had  hired  the  Institute  building,  in  the  first  in- 
stance, for  three  years  only,  and  contemplated  eighty 
boys  as  the  extent  of  his  school  family.  In  the  third 
year  he  .found  himself  with  a  hundred  pupils,  but  also, 
the  initiation  of  the  work  costing  more  than  he  an- 
ticipated, with  ten  thousand  dollars  of  debt,  and  this 
in  addition  to  the  absorption  of  all  his  private  means. 
Mrs.  Muhlenberg,  his  mother,  stood  ready  to  assume 
his  responsibilities  in  this  amount,  and  hoped  he  would 
now  relinquish  the  undertaking  to  which  she  had  never 
become  reconciled.  He  could  honorably  have  done 
so,  having  fulfilled  all  that  he  had  pledged  himself  to, 
but  nothing  was  further  from  his  mind  than  such  a 
surrender.  He  kept  bravely  on,  and  in  the  end  the 
School  paid  its  expenses. 

College  Point  was  purchased  in  the  summer  of  1835. 
It  was  a  very  beautiful  domain  and  admirably  adapted 
to  its  purpose.  There  was  a  water  front  of  more  than 
a  mile,  and  the  Point,  stretching  far  into  the  river, 


126  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS   MUHLENBERG. 

formed  in  one  direction  a  sheltered  cove,  or  bay,  for 
safe  boating  and  other  water  sports,  and  rose  land- 
ward into  a  broad,  high  knoll  which  commanded  a  fine 
extended  view  of  the  Sound  with  its  ever-shifting  pan- 
orama of  vessels,  from  the  snowy-winged  pleasure 
yacht  to  the  Atlantic  steamer.  A  more  magnificent 
"campus"  could  not  be  imagined. 

The  college  edifice  was  designed  to  stand  on  the 
summit  of  the  knoll.  It  was  to  have  been  an  exten- 
sive and  substantial  structure,  costing  about  fifty  thou- 
sand dollars.  We  say  ivas  to  have  been,  for  it  never 
came  to  pass,  notwithstanding  that  the  corner-stone 
was  laid  in  the  presence  of  the  bishop  of  the  diocese, 
Oct  15,  1836,  with  enthusiastic  anticipations.  The  day 
of  this  ceremony  was  one  of  great  interest  and  enjoy- 
ment to  the  concourse  of  friends  who  participated  in 
its  exercises.  The  rector  wrote  both  an  address  and 
an  ode  for  the  purpose,*  and  associates  and  pupils 
drew  propitious  omens  from  air,  earth,  and  sea  which 
seem  to  have  been  at  their  loveliest  for  the  occasion. 

"The  liquid  azure,"  wrote  one  who  was  present,  "the 
ethereal  atmosphere,  the  balmy  breeze,  only  strong 
enough  to  float  the  banners  and  spread  the  white  can- 
vas of  a  hundred  vessels,  withal  the  golden  verdure 
lighted  by  a  mellow  autumnal  sun,  enraptured  every 
one  with  the  scenery."  Nor  was  the  futility  of  that 
glad  "foundation-day"  failure.  True,  the  walls  over 
the  corner-stone  then  laid  never  rose  above  the  base- 

*  See  Evan.  Cath.  Papers,  Second  Series,  pp.  63  et.  seq. 


WHY    THE    WORK    WAS    STOPPED,  127 

ment  story,  and  St.  Paul's  College  was,  to  the  end, 
housed  in  wooden  buildings  aside  those  of  the  Gram- 
mar School  at  the  foot  of  the  knoll;  but  the  true 
living  work  of  the  Christian  college  went  on,  none 
the  less.  It  was  as  faithfully  and  earnestly  impelled 
as  though  honored  with  a  habitation  of  porphyry  and 
marble,  and  if  not  made  locally  permanent  by  means 
of  solid  masonry,  has  been  essentially  perpetuated  in 
its  offsets  and  in  the  multitude  of  kindred  institutions, 
existing  at  this  day  in  our  church,  of  which  St.  Paul's 
College  was  the  exemplar. 

But  how  came  the  solid  structure  begun  upon  the 
knoll  to  be  stopped?  Owing  to  no  individual  or  private 
failure,  but  from  a  great  public  monetary  disturbance. 
When  Dr.  Muhlenberg  made  his  preparations  for  build- 
ing, subscriptions  were  coming  in,  which,  with  other 
prospective  contributions  and  general  promises  of  sup- 
port, justified  the  step;  but  shortly  came  the  great  fi- 
nancial crisis  of  1837,  when  banks  collapsed,  the  strong- 
est institutions  staggered,  and  men  of  supposed  solid 
wealth  were  reduced  to  poverty,  as  in  a  day.  Among 
these  last  were  some  of  Dr.  Muhlenberg's  chief  friends 
and  helpers,  and  his  resources  were,  of  course,  almost 
summarily  cut  off.  He  kept  on  with  the  basement 
story  until  the  funds  he  had  in  hand  were  exhausted, 
and  then  suspended  operations.  He  did  not  regard  the 
cessation  as  other  than  temporary;  expecting  to  resume 
building  with  the  revival  of  business ;  but,  however  this 
might  be,  he  would  not  entangle  his  sacred  undertak- 
ing with  debt.  The  work,  as  already  intimated,  was 


128  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS   MUHLENBERG. 

never  resumed.  There  were  lookers-on  who  appreci- 
ated Dr.  Muhlenberg's  high  principle  in  this  matter, 
and  who  in  due  time  pointed  it  out  to  the  church. 

The  editor  of  the  Journal  of  Christian  Education  in 
March,  1841,  may  be  quoted  as  illustrative:  "On  pass- 
ing up  the  Sound,"  he  writes,  "one  of  the  principal  ob- 
jects that  strikes  the  eye  of  the  observer  as  he  ap- 
proaches College  Point  is  the  foundation  of  a  large 
stone  building  raised  some  eight  or  ten  feet  above  the 
ground  and  there  abandoned.  On  asking  why  it  is  left 
in  this  unfinished  state,  the  answer  is  that  its  proprie- 
tor had  not  the  means  at  the  time  to  carry  it  further, 
and  would  not  get  into  debt.  But  was  not  Dr.  Muhl- 
enberg  working  for  the  church,  and  might  he  not  have 
gone  on  to  build  assured  that  in  an  emergency  the 
church,  aroused  by  the  exciting  appeals  that  could 
readily  be  framed,  would  step  in  to  save  his  college 
from  the  bailiff?  Unquestionably.  The  general  senti- 
ment and  practice  invited  him  to  pursue  this  course. 
But  he  chose  not  to  adopt  it.  We  admire  his  self- 
denial  and  thank  him  for  his  good  example.  .  ...  . 

"Those  unfinished  walls  indicate  the  sober,  patient, 
and  confiding  wisdom  which  looks  far  into  futurity, 
disregarding  present  consequences.  No  churchman  on 
beholding  them  can  employ  the  reproach,  'This  man 
began  to  build,'  for  he  would  be  obliged  to  add,  'But 
we  (the  church)  for  whom  he  was  building,  would  not 
permit  him  to  finish.'" 

A  structure  of  wood  had  been  erected  at  the  Point 
for  the  Grammar  School,  which  was  opened  in  1837; 


A    GREAT  SORROW.  129 

while  a  number  of  the  younger  boys  composed  a  dis- 
tinct establishment  in  the  Institute  building,  conducted 
by  two  of  the  Instructors*  on  their  own  responsibil- 
ity, but  upon  Dr.  Muhlenberg's  plan.  At  this  junc- 
ture, and  pending  the  reaction  of  the  business  world, 
which  he  hoped  would  give  a  new  impetus  to  the  col- 
lege building,  Dr.  Muhlenberg  thought  he  saw  the  op- 
portunity so  far  back  descried  for  a  sojourn  of  some 
length  in  Europe.  He  proposed  to  himself  an  absence 
of  two  years,  and  planned  to  give  the  Grammar  School 
for  that  period  to  the  care  of  two  of  his  most  competent 
associates,  who,  while  maintaining  the  principles  and 
order  of  the  School  as  he  had  established  them,  were  to 
have  for  themselves  whatever  profit  might  accrue.  His 
brother,  Dr.  Frederick  Augustus  Muhlenberg,  for  some 
years  past  associated  with  him  as  physician  of  the  In- 
stitute, and  professor  of  physiology,  hygiene,  and  the 
natural  sciences,  was  to  be  his  representative  during 
his  absence  in  all  that  concerned  the  college  enter- 
prise. This  plan  was  frustrated  by  the  unexpected 
illness  and  death  of  this  only  and  beloved  brother. 
He  was  seized  with  rapid  consumption,  and  expired 
June  llth,  1837. 

Dr.  Frederick  Augustus  Muhlenberg  was  a  highly 
cultivated  and  accomplished  man,  and  full  of  musical 
talent.  Further  he  was  his  brother's  spiritual  child  as 
well  as  his  dear  companion — "Frater  et  Filius  Christi" 
— and  the  survivor  used  to  speak  of  this  loss  as  the 

*  Rev.  Dr.  C.  F.  Crus<*  and  J.  B.  Kerfoot. 


130  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

chief  sorrow  of  his  life.  A  number  of  musical  compo- 
sitions, secular  as  well  as  sacred,  were  left  by  him.  A 
tune  afterwards  named  "  Frederick "  in  the  Tune  Book 
of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  is  one  of  these,  and 
was  written  for  his  favorite  hymn,  "  Saviour,  source  of 
every  blessing."  On  his  death-bed,  which  was  wonder- 
ful in  its  fulness  of  Christian  peace,  Frederick  asked 
his  brother  to  sing  this  hymn.  Complying,  the  latter 
said,  "Henceforth  we  shall  always  sing  that  hymn 
to  your  own  sweet  tune"  ;  a  promise  which  has  been 
observed  in  all  Dr.  Muhlenberg's  institutions.  Anoth- 
er little  incident  further  illustrates  the  tenderness  of 
Dr.  Muhlenberg's  affection,  though  it  occurred  full 
three  years  after  his  brother's  decease.  A  new  or- 
gan was  in  contemplation  for  the  College  chapel.  In 
a  musical  point  of  view,  this  was  very  desirable,  but 
the  associations  of  the  old  one,  its  early  use  in  the 
Institute,  and  especially  by  his  brother  Frederick  made 
him  very  unwilling  to  part  with  it.  "If,"  he  writes, 
"I  were  to  give  it  to  Erben  (the  organ  builder),  I 
should  bargain  to  have  several  of  the  stops  put  into  the 
new  organ,  particularly  the  Duldana,  on  which  my 
brother,  now  in  Paradise,  used  to  make  such  heavenly 
music." 

Once  more  he  relinquished  the  thought  of  going  to 
Europe,  and,  a  combination  of  favorable  circumstances 
encouraging  him,  resolved  without  further  delay  to  pro- 
ceed with  the  establishment  of  his  college  in  such 
buildings  as  he  could  then  command.  Accordingly, 
without  abandoning  all  effort  to  continue  the  work 


PRINCIPLES   OF  ST.   PAUD  S    COLLEGE.  131 

upon  the  knoll,  he  erected  commodious  and  sightly 
edifices  of  wood,  adjoining  those  of  the  Grammar 
School,  along  the  shore,  and  here  St.  Paul's  College 
was  begun  in  the  year  1838,  with  a  full  corps  of  pro- 
fessors and  instructors,  and  all  the  usual  appliances  of  a 
collegiate  institution.  The  leaden  box  which  had  been 
laid  within  the  corner-stone  of  the  Flushing  Institute 
was  dug  out,  and  placed  under  the  new  building  at  the 
Point.  "  It  was  deposited  unopened,"  wrote  Dr.  Muhl- 
enberg  on  the  occasion,  "to  show  the  identity  of  the 
Institution." 

In  entering  upon  St.  Paul's  College,  he  had  proposed 
to  relieve  himself  of  the  care  of  the  younger  boys, 
by  transferring  the  Flushing  Institute  to  the  inde- 
pendent charge  of  the  two  gentlemen  already  men- 
tioned; but  the  lamentation  at  his  withdrawal  on  the 
part  of  parents  and  guardians  was  so  great,  "so  loud  a 
wail  went  up,"  as  one  said,  that  he  could  not  resist  the 
appeal,  and  within  a  short  time  resumed  his  former  re- 
lations. The  boys  and  the  two  instructors  removed  to 
the  Point,  and  all  united  again  under  Dr.  Muhlenberg. 

The  fundamental  principles  of  the  College  were  the 
same  as  those  of  the  Institute,  viz.,  that  the  study  of 
the  ancient  languages  and  of  the  exact  sciences  forms 
the  true  groundwork  of  a  liberal  education ;  that  in  the, 
discipline  of  the  intellect  there  can  be  no  substitute 
for  the  old  process  of  patient  application;  that  moral 
and  religious  training  must  go  hand  in  hand  with  the 
cultivation  of  the  intellect;  that  the  religious  instruc- 
tion must  be  in  accordance  with  the  creed  of  some  par- 


132  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

ticular  church,  hence  here  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal ; 
and  that  pure  and  enduring  motives  are  to  be  urged  in 
the  culture  of  the  mind  as  well  as  of  the  heart. 

Some  paragraphs  from  a  paper  of  Dr.  Muhlenberg's 
of  this  date  will  illustrate  more  specifically  the  genius 
and  sentiment  of  the  Institution.  First,  as  to  its  name 
after  St.  Paul :  "As  St.  Paul,  the  most  educated  of  the 
apostles,  glorified  his  Divine  Master  with  his  learning 
and  eloquence,  so  in  the  College,  human  wisdom  must 
be  consecrated  with  the  spirit  and  made  subservient  to 
the  interests  of  the  Gospel " 

Again:  "The  doctrines  of  original  sin,  of  regeneration 
by  the  Holy  Spirit,  of  justification  by  faith,  and  what 
are  usually  termed  'the  doctrines  of  grace'  as  taught 
by  St.  Paul,  must  be  the  theology  of  the  College.  ..." 

Secondly  as  to  Discipline :  "  The  guardians  of  youth, 
in  ordinary  colleges,  are  expected  to  exercise  parental 
authority,  not  at  discretion,  but  in  the  execution  of  laws 
and  statutes  already  enacted  by  higher  powers.  Hence, 
the  pupil  is  the  citizen  of  a  commonwealth,  obeying  its 
laws,  but  standing  on  his  rights  and  warning  his  gov- 
ernors not  to  exceed  theirs ;  instead  of  being  the  mem- 
ber of  a  family,  to  the  head  of  which  he  is  to  render 
unqualified  obedience,  and  whose  will  is  to  be  his  law. 
In  this  state  of  things  parental  authority  is  removed  to 
a  distance,  and  the  first  lesson  which  the  boy  learns  is 
his  own  independence.  And  this,  it  will  be  maintained 
by  some,  is  precisely  the  kind  of  training  proper  for 
American  youth,  whose  free-born  spirit  should  brook 
no  other.  But  surely  the  feeling  of  independence  is 


COLLEGE    GOVERNMENT.  133 

not  of  so  slow  a  growth  in  our  country  that  it  must 
needs  be  fostered  at  school.  The  spirit  abroad  in  the 
land  should  lead  us  to  think  rather  of  checks  than  of 
incentives,  and  to  require  subordination  in  the  boy  as 
some  preparation  for  the  sovereignty  of  the  man. 

"  But  collegians,  it  may  be  said,  are  not  boys — their 
age  requires  that  they  be  governed  like  men,  not  by 
the  will  of  their  superiors,  but  by  a  code  of  laws,  to 
which  their  guardians  are  amenable  as  well  as  them- 
selves. This  is  an  error.  The  age  of  collegians  is  the 
very  period  of  life  when  they  most  need  the  discretion- 
ary guidance  of  parents  and  governors,  and  when  no 
written  laws  are  sufficient  to  regulate  their  conduct. 
From  fourteen  to  eighteen  is  the  most  critical  period 
of  human  life.  It  is  the  age  of  feeling  and  passion,  and 
consequently  the  age  of  danger,  and  then  shall  the 
youth  be  allowed  all  at  once  to  judge  for  himself? 
Then  may  there  be  a  sudden  relinquishment  of  pa- 
ternal control?  No;  then,  more  than  ever,  he  needs 
the  care  and  counsel  of  his  guardians,  and  therefore 
then,  more  especially,  should  he  be  taught  the  duty 
of  a  ready  acquiescence  in  their  will.  Surely  the  rapids 
in  the  stream  of  life  are  not  the  place  for  dispensing 
with  the  pilot. 

"It  may  be  objected  that  such  government  leaves 
too  much  room  for  caprice  and  even  tyranny  in  the 
preceptor.  But  the  preceptor  is  answerable  to  pub- 
lic opinion.  If  he  play  the  petty  despot  he  will  soon 
lose  his  subjects,  for  the  parent  has  the  right  of  remov- 
ing his  child,  and  the  child  has  the  privilege  of  pri- 


134  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

vate  communication  with  the  parent.  This  is  a  suf- 
ficient check  on  the  abuse  of  power,  and  it  should 
always  be  secured. 

"  The  discipline  contended  for  is  not  easy  in  practice, 
since  it  supposes  a  provision  for  parental  interest  and 
affection,  as  well  as  for  parental  power,  and  without  a 
good  degree  of  the  former,  the  latter  will  be  unavail- 
ing. But  the  former  can  hardly  be  expected  where 
the  business  of  education  is  adopted  merely  as  a  means 
of  livelihood  and  abandoned  as  soon  as  possible  for  a 
more  agreeable  or  more  lucrative  employment. 

"There  may,  in  such  cases,  be  able,  conscientious, 
and  effective  instruction ;  but  the  influence  and  control 
over  the  pupil,  here  supposed  necessary,  can  only  be 
where  education  is  undertaken  from  views  of  duty  and 
with  the  same  benevolence  of  motives  that  leads  to 
the  sacred  ministry.  Then  there  will  be  a  hold  on 
the  respect  and  affection  of  the  pupil  which  will  make 
parental  discipline  a  reality.  And  thus  it  should  be — 
Education  should  be  not  only  a  learned  but  a  sacred 
profession.  Men  devoted  to  it  should  be  a  recognized 
order  in  the  church,  and  be  expected  to  give  them- 
selves to  its  duties  with  the  philanthropic  and  self- 
denying  spirit  of  the  Christian  missionary." 

Dr.  Muhlenberg  had  now  a  more  complete  work 
and  a  larger  field  for  his  peculiar  talent  and  expe- 
rience, but  with  these  came  a  corresponding  increase 
of  care  and  a  demand  upon  him  for  attention  to  de- 
tails which  only  the  sacredness  of  the  cause  could 
make  acceptable. 


CARES   AND    PRAYERS.  135 

A  glimpse  of  this  is  found  in  a  page  of  his  journal 
of  these  days.  It  is  part  of  one  of  those  codes  of  rules, 
or  promises,  with  which,  his  life  through,  he  was  in 
the  habit  of  disciplining  himself. 

".  .  .  .  I  will  endeavor  continually  to  remember 
that  I  am  working  in  the  service  of  Jesus  Christ  and 
must  therefore  do  patiently  what  he  sets  me  at,  whether 
it  seem  great  or  small  in  my  eyes." 

"I  will  avoid  unprofitable  talk  about  plans  for  the 
future,  and  go  steadily  on  with  the  work  of  the  hour." 

"  I  will  pursue  more  methodically  my  endeavors  for 

the  religious  welfare  of  the  boys The  cares 

of  the  College  and  School  are  the  cross  which  I  must 
bear  for  Jesus  Christ's  sake.  When  I  think  of  this,  I 
go  cheerfully  to  work  and  can  make  the  most  trifling 
duty  a  religious  act.  Lord,  grant  me  the  spirit  of  con- 
tentment, and  grace  to  abide  patiently  in  my  lot.  0 
help  me,  blessed  Saviour — strength,  strength,  strength, 
that  is  what  I  want!  0  deny  it  not  to  me,  thy  poor 
but  loving  disciple !  .  .  .  ." 

The  Institute  and  the  College  were  one  and  the 
same  thing.  The  wholesome  strictness  and  tender 
sympathy  which  had  not  failed  to  yield  good  fruit 
in  the  former,  were  brought  to  bear  with  equal  zeal 
upon  the  latter.  By  degrees,  it  may  be  that  the  exte- 
rior machinery  of  the  College  became  more  prominent ; 
showing  more  of  the  formalities,  as  well  as  the  love 
and  spirit  of  order ;  but  there  was  never  any  substitute 
of  the  artificial  and  the  showy,  for  the  sincere  and  the 
substantial.  Alike  in  the  School  and  in  the  College, 


136  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

from  beginning  to  end,  the  professors  and  instructors, 
as  well  as  the  rector,  when  released  from  the  restraint 
of  the  class-room  and  chair  of  office,  went  among  the 
students  with  the  utmost  freedom  and  familiarity; 
both  parties  standing  on  that  ground  of  unaffected 
sincerity  and  mutual  kind  feeling  which  was  always 
the  sure  basis  of  the  discipline  of  Dr.  Muhlenberg's 
Institutions. 

A  record  of  his  individual  dealings  with  his  boys, 
in  matters  great  as  well  as  small,  were  the  data  for 
such  obtainable,  would  form  a  very  interesting  and 
instructive  volume.  Few  preceptors  have  known  their 
pupils  as  he  knew  his;  and  fewer  yet,  perhaps,  have 
been  as  naturally  qualified  for  understanding  them. 
He  used  to  say  that  for  true  teaching,  as  well  as  for 
the  ministry,  a  threefold  call  was  necessary,  namely, 
that  of  "Nature,  Grace,  and  Education."  Eminently  was 
he,  thus,  thrice  endowed.  He  possessed,  especially,  a 
rare  skill  for  leading  his  charge  to  unfold  any  wrong- 
doing of  which  they  were  guilty.  Like  St.  Paul,  being 
crafty  he  caught  them  "  with  guile."  He  knew  how  to 
throw  himself  into  their  particular  weaknesses  and 
temptations.  "  And  he  made  you  feel  so  comfortable," 
said  one  of  his  latest  sons,  "even  when  probing  you 
to  the  quick,  leading  you  on,  sympathizing  with  and 
helping  you,  where  another  would  have  given  you  a 
flogging." 

Sometimes  an  improvised  rhyme,  or  a  witty  word, 
would  substitute  a  graver  rebuke.  -Thus,  to  one  who 
was  talking  grandiloquently  of  "our  glorious  Union 


DIFFERENT   SORTS    OF  SINNERS.  137 

and  its  star-spangled  banner,"  Dr.  Muhlenberg  (never 
forgetful  of  the  blot,  now  happily  effaced,  with  which 
that  glory  was  then  tarnished)  instantly  replied:  "Oh 

yes; 

"The  stars  are  the  scars, 
And  the  stripes  are  the  wipes, 
Of  the  lash  on  the  negro's  back." 

With  gentle  irony,  a  delicate  weapon  which  he  knew 
well  how  to  wield,  he  sent  to  a  rather  self-righteous 
young  disciple  a  slip  of  paper  bearing  within,  simply 
this — no  other  word — 

"  18th  hymn  corrected — 3rd  verse — 

"I  did  seek  thee  when  a  stranger 

Looking  for  the  fold  of  God; 
7,  to  save  my  soul  from  danger, 
Earned  redemption  in  thy  blood." 

To  another,  denouncing  too  vehemently,  the  wrong- 
doing of  a  companion,  he  said  "  Ah !  my  dear ,  the 

Lord  has  a  good  many  different  sorts  of  sinners " ;  thus, 
irresistibly  compelling  the  accuser  to  look  within. 

This  is  how  he  dealt  with  a  youth  in  whom  he  dis- 
cerned some  vain-gloriousness  as  to  his  performances 
in  the  chapel  choir.  It  was  the  young  man's  duty  to 
get  the  number  of  the  psalm  and  hymn  for  the  service, 
and  going  one  Sunday  morning  to  Dr.  Muhlenberg  for 
the  purpose,  while  the  latter  was  turning  over  the 
leaves  of  the  Prayer  Book,  apparently  making  a  selec- 
tion, the  youth  began  to  speak  of  the  music  of  the 
preceding  Sunday,  somewhat  in  this  wise  :  "  We  did 


138  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS   MUHLENBERG. 

pretty  well  in  the  choir  last  Sunday  ?  "  "  Yes,"  without 
lifting  his  head.  "That  anthem  went  finely,  I  think" 
— fishing  for  the  praise  which  he  had  looked  for  after 
singing  it,  but  did  not  receive.  "Yes,"  still  turning 
over  the  leaves.  Presently,  thinking  the  Doctor  rather 
long,  he  said,  "What  shall  we  sing  to-day,  sir?"  The 
Doctor  lifted  his  head,  and  said  gravely,  "  Why,  let  us 
sing  to  the  praise  and  glory  of — 'John  Smith' — (bor- 
rowing a  name)  such  and  such  a  psalm  and  hymn." 
The  individual,  now  a  clergyman  of  the  church, 
frankly  told  this  story  against  himself,  adding  that 
from  that  time  forth,  at  any  rising  of  the  old  self- 
complacency  these  words  of  the  beloved  pastor  and 
teacher  would  come  back  forcibly  to  him. 


CHAPTER    X. 

1839-1843. 

Exclusion  of  Emulation  as  an  Incentive. — How  it  Worked. — No  Tolerance 
of  Inferior  Scholarship.— Examination  of  1839.— Instructors  Educated 
in  Institution. — The  Faculty. — Dimensions  of  Buildings. — Other  Sta- 
tistics.— Dr.  Muhlenberg's  Proprietorship. — Physical  Culture  of  Stu- 
dents.— Boating. — A  Summer  Evening  Scene. — Impressiveness  of  the 
Place.— Noon-tide  Chapel  Service.— Religious  Efforts  Beyond  the  Col- 
lege.— Chapel  Services  on  the  Great  Festivals. — Esthetic  not  Ritual- 
istic.—Music  and  Song.— The  Wreath-makers'  Ballad.— Ode  for  the 
Ashburton  Dinner. — Unresting  Originating  Power. — Numerous  Educa- 
tional Plans. — An  Order  of  Christian  Teachers  for  the  Church. — Cadets' 
Hall.— Prose  Compositions. — A  Birthday  in  Retirement. — Spiritual  Ex- 
ercises.— His  Christian  Watchfulness. 

AN  important  and  distinguishing  feature  of  Dr.  Muhl- 
enberg's plan  of  education,  it  has  been  seen,  was  the 
substitution  of  Christian  endeavor  for  emulation,  as  an 
incentive  to  study.  No  other  stimulants  for  learning 
were  sought  than  those  furnished  by  motives  of  duty, 
with  such  rewards  and  punishments  as  seemed,  natu- 
rally and  equitably,  consequent  on  the  performance  or 
neglect  of  duty,  and  thus  every  task  that  was  mastered 
strengthened  the  moral  principle.  This  was  distinct 
from  the  religious  character  of  the  Institution,  which 
might  have  been  sustained  in  connection  with  a  mode 
of  discipline,  based  on  the  usual  system  of  rewards  and 
punishments.  It  would  be  interesting  to  compare  the 
results  of  this  method,  as  to  scholarship,  with  those  of 


140  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

contemporary  seminaries  of  learning,  where  the  ordi- 
nary prize  system  was  employed.  At  this  distance  of 
time,  any  such  comparison  is  of  course  impossible,  but 
at  the  outset  Dr.  Muhlenberg  had  said:  "Keligion  is 
the  basis  of  the  School,  but  Keligion  shall  not  be  taken 
into  account  for  inferior  scholarship,"  and  be  eminently 
carried  out  his  resolution. 

For  the  sake  of  the  great  principle  involved  in  the 
incentives  employed,  a  passage  from  a  letter  relating  to 
the  examination  of  1839,  is  of  interest.  It  is  from  one 
of  the  visitors  of  the  occasion,  who,  speaking  of  the 
exercises  of  the  classical  department  says: 

"The  examination  was  far  beyond  any  thing  of  the 
kind  to  which  we  have  been  accustomed.  .  .  .  Pas- 
sages taken  at  random  from  -the  Medea  of  Euripides, 
Homer,  Demosthenes,  Horace,  etc.,  were  translated  ac- 
curately, neatly,  and  often  beautifully;  then  analyzed 
and  parsed.  Portions  were  also  recited  memoriter  in 
the  original.  Suddenly  the  professor  would  call  for  the 
remainder  of  the  passage  in  English,  then  go  back  to 
the  original,  and  the  students  would,  without  hesitation, 
fulfil  the  required  task.  Nothing  but  the  most  thor- 
ough training  and  very  great  diligence  could  have  ef- 
fected such  results.  .  .  ."  The  professor  referred  to, 
the  Eev.  J.  G.  Barton,  was  educated  in  the  Institute, 
and  at  that  time,  with  the  exception  of  three  of  the 
older  professors,  all  the  instructors  in  the  academical 
department  were  men  educated  by  Dr.  Muhlenberg.* 

*  The  Faculty  of  St.  Paul's  College  in  the  Session  of  1840-41  was 
composed  as  follows:  Eev.  William  Augustus  Muhlenberg,  D.D.,  Kec- 


PROPRIETORSHIP   OF   COLLEGE.  141 

The  range  of  buildings  constituting  St.  Paul's  College 
and  Grammar  School,  as  completed  in  1840,  measured 
two  hundred  and  thirty-two  feet  in  front,  with  a  depth 
in  the  wings  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  feet.  In 
a  letter  addressed  to  the  Eegents  of  the  University  of 
New  York,  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  the  right  to 
confer  degrees,  dated  St.  Paul's  College,  January  13th, 
1840,  and  signed  by  the  chief  of  the  faculty  of  the 
Institution,  the  following  statistics  are  given:  "Num- 
ber of  students,  105;  Volumes  in  Libraries,  7,000; 
value  of  property,  $70,000;  annual  cost  of  salaries  of 
Professors  and  Instructors,  $9,000."  All  this  was  the 
result  of  Dr.  Muhlenberg's  individual  effort,  and  he  re- 
mained the  proprietor  to  the  end;  though  not  without 
repeated  and  earnest  endeavors  to  transfer  the  whole  to 

tor,  Senior  of  the  Collegiate  Family  and  Professor  of  Evidences  and 
Ethics  of  Christianity;  Bev.  Christian  F.  Cruse',  D.D.,  Professor  of 
Hebrew,  Greek,  and  Latin  Languages ;  Charles  Gill,  Professor  of  Math- 
ematics and  Natural  Philosophy;  Kev.  J.  G.  Barton,  Professor  of  Greek 
and  Latin  Languages;  Newton  May,  M.D.,  Professor  of  Chemistry  and 
Mineralogy,  and  Besident  Physician  of  the  Collegiate  Family;  Bev. 
L.  Van  Bokkelen,  Secretary  and  Assisting  Professor  of  Mathematics 
and  Natural  Philosophy;  Bev.  John  B.  Kerfoot,  Chaplain  and  Assist- 
ing Professor  of  Greek  and  Latin  Languages;  J.  Huntingdon,  M.D., 
Assistant  Professor  of  Bhetoric  and  Intellectual  Philosophy,  and  Joseph 
Lipinski,  Professor  of  the  French  and  German  Languages.  The  In- 
structors in  the  several  departments  under  the  professors,  were,  James 
S.  Bowdler,  Beuben  Biley,  Bobert  S.  Howland,  Charles  Bancroft,  and 
Henry  M.  Sheafe. 

All  but  the  last  named  of  these  gentlemen  became  clergymen  of  the 
church.  There  were  also  a  Professor  and  an  Instructor  in  Music,  and 
an  Instructor  of  Drawing. 


142  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

some  competent  body,  such  as  might  insure  its  perma- 
nence as  a  church  college  and  literary  institution. 

Amid  such  abundant  care  for  the  moral  and  intel- 
lectual training  of  the  students,  it  may  be  assumed 
that  physical  culture  was  not  overlooked.  Very  large 
provision  was  made  for  it.  In  their  gardens; — each 
boy  who  fancied  horticulture  having  one  of  his  own ; — 
their  gymnasium ;  their  healthful,  manly,  out-door  sports 
of  all  kinds;  in  the  wide  rural  range,  beautiful  and  se- 
cluded, for  pedestrian  feats,  and  the  ample  stretch  of 
shore  for  swimming  and  boating,  better  facilities  for 
the  acquisition  of  physical  vigor  could  not  exist.  Sail- 
boats were  peremptorily  excluded,  but  rowing  within 
bounds,  each  boat  with  its  own  captain  and  crew,  was 
a  never-failing  enjoyment.  The  bay  allotted  to  such 
exercise,  presented  an  animated  and  pleasing  scene 
on  a  summer  evening.  The  water  all  astir  with  boys 
and  boats,  colors  streaming,  oars  flashing,  young  voices 
and  young  hearts  all  in  merriest  accord,  illustrating 
the  school-father's  own  words  in  the  Kosy  June  song 
that  he  wrote  for  them — 


"The  blue  waves  are  breaking 

With,  mirth  on  the  strand 
"Wild  music  is  waking 
O'er  river  and  land. 

Jocund  breezes  arc  blowing, 
Joy  flushes  the  scene, 

In  the  tide  health  is  flowing, 
Life  bounds  in  the  green." 


THE   NOON  SERVICE.  143 

The  associations  of  these  college  haunts  do  not  linger 
alone  with  those  who  grew  up  amongst  them.  Some 
visiting  the  Institution,  as  relatives  of  the  boys,  or 
friends  of  the  Principal,  can  never  forget  how  they 
felt  the  inspiration,  the  unworldliness  of  the  place,  as 
something  unlike  any  other.  The  sweet  simple  chapel, 
looking  out  upon  "the  green  pastures  and  still  waters" 
where  it  was  so  refreshing  to  repair,  not  only  morning 
and  evening  daily,  but  every  day  at  noon-tide  too,  for 
a  brief  hallowed  interval ;  to  hear  the  rector  read,  with 
a  force  and  reality  all  his  own,  a  few  verses  from  the 
Book  of  Life,  followed  by  the  chanting  of  a  portion  of 
the  19th  Psalm,  "  The  law  of  the  Lord  is  an  undefined 
law,"  which  never,  thenceforth,  to  their  ears  could  be 
separated  from  the  music  there  wedded  to  it;  and  all 
closing  with  a  moment  of  silent  prayer,  a  few  collects, 
and  the  benediction; — not  more  than  ten  minutes  oc- 
cupied by  the  whole. 

There  was  nothing  obligatory  in  the  call  to  this 
noon  service  for  any  one.  Only  those  boys  came  who 
were  inclined  to  do  so,  but  there  were  always  a  num- 
ber to  whom  the  noon-bell  for  this  purpose,  came  with 
welcome  summons ;  always  a  number,  larger  or  smaller, 
of  devout  boys  in  the  ranks.  And  how  courteous  and 
gentlemanly,  with  the  manner  of  sons  at  home,  were 
those  young  College  Pointers. 

Some  of  the  more  distinctive  characteristics  of  Dr. 
Muhlenberg's  educational  work  have  been  felicitously 
touched  by  the  pen  of  one  familiar,  through  an  alumnus 
of  the  College,  both  with  its  methods  and  their  results. 


144  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

The  following  is  an  extract:  "Without  the  objection- 
able features  of  the  great  English  schools,  it  yet  most 
happily  reproduced  their  leading  excellencies.  The 
whole  system  of  teaching  was  brought  into  healthful 
subordination  to  sound  principles  of  Christian  nurture. 
The  College  chapel,  that  bugbear  of  most  youths  in  our 
ordinary  American  institutions,  was  made  at  once  the 
centre  of  the  whole  school  life,  and  a  place  of  gen- 
uine attractiveness.  The  Church  Year,  which  has  so 
much  in  its  beautiful  order  to  appeal  to  the  young 
mind,  was  made  practically,  the  school  year;  and  to- 
day, among  hundreds  of  men,  in  all  ranks  of  life,  some 
of  them  wearing  the  bishop's  lawn,  and  others  the 
judge's  ermine,  who  have  gone  forth  from  College 
Point,  there  is  scarce  one  who  does  not  date  his  first 
appreciation  of  the  church's  feasts  and  fasts  from  the 
solemn  and  glowing  services  in  its  chapel.  Wisely 
coupled  with  this  Christian  nurture,  was  a  healthful 
and  manly  physical  culture.  The  legends  of  the  boy- 
ish sports  at  College  Point,  as  narrated  by  those  who 
shared  them,  reads  like  a  chapter  out  of  Tom  Brown 
at  Rugby,  and  there  is  little  doubt  that  they  have  given 
an  impulse  to  reforms  in  similar  institutions,  in  the 
remotest  corners  of  the  land.  But  the  secret  of  this 
success  was  not  any  system,  however  excellent,  nor 
any  skill,  however  thorough.  It  was  in  the  rare  and 
happy  qualities  of  the  presiding  mind.  That  mind  pos- 
sessed the  magnetism  of  Arnold  without  his  impatience ; 
the  religious  earnestness  of  Arnold,  without  his  ten- 
dency to  speculation.  And  the  boys  caught  and  re- 


THE   DOCTOR'S  BOYS.  145 

fleeted  the  master's  spirit.  They  are  scattered  to-day, 
from  one  end  of  the  continent  to  the  other;  but  they 
can  no  more  forget,  no  matter  what  distances  of  time 
or  space  separates  them  from  their  boyhood  scenes, 
that  they  were  once  the  Doctor's  boys,  than  they  could 
forget  their  own  existence.  Such  memories  are  verily 
a  part  of  their  existence,  even  as  the  influences  in 
which  they  have  their  roots  are  a  part  of  their  char- 
acters. The  principles  of  College  Point  have  taken 
shape  in  many  other  schools  since  then,  and  its  pupils 
have,  in  more  than  one  instance,  risen  to  be  among 
the  most  successful  educators  of  our  day;  but  there  is 
not  one  of  them  that  would  not  gladly  and  gratefully 
own  his  indebtedness  to  the  venerable  friend  and  fa- 
ther whose  loving  wisdom  and  patient  labors  inaugu- 
rated a  new  era  in  the  Christian  nurture  of  our  youth, 
and  lifted  the  church,  in  that  matter  to  a  higher  level, 
both  of  effort  and  of  aspiration."  * 

It  would  be  for  some  of  those  who  came  personally 
under  Dr.  Muhlenberg's  remarkable  power  as  a  Chris- 
tian educator  to  do  justice  to  this  period  of  his  life; 
one  of  these  thus  writes:  "A  thorough  scholar  himself, 
the  standard  of  scholarship  in  his  schools  was  always 
high.  But  education,  with  him,  meant  something 
more  than  Greek  and  Latin  and  mathematics.  The 
boy's  soul  was  of  greater  value  than  his  mind,  and  we 
think  we  may  say  that,  without  exception,  of  the  hun- 
dreds upon  hundreds  of  boys  who  have  been  at  various 

*  Kev.  Henry  C.  Potter,  D.D. 
10 


146  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

times  under  Dr.  Muhlenberg's  charge,  there  was  not 
one  whom  he  did  not  strive  to  benefit  spiritually.  He 
thoroughly  understood  a  boy's  nature,  and  knew  the 
way  to  his  heart,  and  religion  was  ever  presented  as  a 
thing  to  be  loved,  not  to  be  dreaded  and  shunned.  It 
was  a  real  thing.  There  was  nothing  in  the  discipline 
or  the  whole  system  of  the  school  that  presented  the 
appearance  of  being  in  conflict  with  the  teachings 
of  the  chapel.  Lent,  without  being  made  repulsive,  was 
sombre;  it  made  itself  felt  through  all  departments. 
Holy  Week  was  quiet,  and  Good  Friday  like  a  day  of 
mourning.  Profane  boys  were  not,  knowingly,  retained 
in  the  school.  Irreligious  boys,  no  matter  what  their 
other  qualifications,  could  not  be  in  the  chapel  choir; 
and  wrong-doing,  according  to  its  degree,  was  fol- 
lowed by  suspension  from  the  choir.  None  but  boys 
who  gave  some  evidence  of  piety,  were  allowed  to  be 
about  the  chapel  in  decorating  it.  Many  instances 
might  be  mentioned  as  going  to  show  how,  every- 
where and  in  all  departments,  the  influence  of  religion 
penetrated.  It  was  the  man  acting  out  what  he  be- 
lieved and  felt,  and  this  consistency  and  earnestness 
of  his  was  the  great  secret  of  his  influence  in  whatever 
he  was  engaged."  * 

Another  says :  "  His  was  the  first  idea  and  achieve- 
ment of  the  church's  Christian  school;  with  high  gen- 
uine learning,  with  free  thought  and  hearty  faith,  with 
gentle,  refining  culture,  conjoined  with  honest,  sturdy 

*  Rev.  W.  A.  Matson,  D.D. 


OUTSIDE   LABORS.  147 

scriptural  morals  and  devotion,  the  love  of  the  Saviour 
wedded  to  manly  honor  and  truthfulness,  all  inspiring 
this  pastor  and  preceptor's  very  self  into  the  inner  life 
of  his  young  disciples."  * 

The  benefits  of  the  chapel  were  not  confined  to  the 
collegiate  family.  Neighbors  and  visitors  from  outside 
loved  to  resort  thither;  and  Dr.  Muhlenberg's  godly 
zeal  and  energy  diffused  a  powerful  religious  influence 
far  beyond  the  College  precincts.  The  instructors  who 
were  candidates  for  the  ministry  were  encouraged  to 
serve  as  missionaries  at  appointed  stations,  others  were 
sent  as  lay-readers  to  untaught  places;  and  the  rector 
himself,  in  the  first  years  of  the  Institute,  held  Cottage- 
meetings  from  house  to  house.  A  wonderful  worker  he 
was,  unremittingly  impelled  by  his  sense  of  Christian 
responsibility  as  to  the  use  of '  time  and  opportunity; 
and  with  a  wonderful,  though  almost  unconscious, 
power  for  inspiring  those  around  him  with  similar 
action. 

All  his  pupils,  whatever  their  maturer  ecclesiastical 
opinions,  agree  as  to  the  impressiveness  of  the  religious 
services  of  the  school — 

' '  Its  chapel,  prayer,  and  praise, 

With  songs  and  rites  that  made  them  love 
The  church's  festal  days." 

The  word  ritualism  was  not  in  vogue  then,  nor  for 
long  after,  as  applied  to  worship  imitative  of,  or  "ad- 
vanced" towards,  Romish  ceremonial;  and,  however 

*  Bishop    Kerfoot. 


148  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

abounding  in  material  expression  the  observance  of 
fast  and  festival  in  St.  Paul's  College  may  have  been, 
it  would  not,  in  the  present  technical  sense  of  the  word, 
be  called  "  ritualistic."  There  was  nothing  in  it  of  ec- 
clesiology  or  mere  prescription, — it  was  original  with 
Dr.  Muhleiiberg.  Said  one  who  for  fifteen  years  was 
under  its  influence,  first  as  a  pupil  and  later  as  teacher, 
"  It  was  the  poetry,  of  which  evangelical  truth  was 
the  concrete.  The  chapel  was  brilliant  on  the  great 
festivals  with  candles  and  emblems.  At  the  Christmas 
services  a  picture  of  the  Virgin  and  Holy  Child,  was 
placed  above  the  altar,  wreathed  with  holly.  On  Good 
Friday,  a  picture  of  the  crucifixion,  with  drapery  of 
black.  On  Easter,  oh  how  glorious  the  service  which 
began  with  the  rising  sun!  There  were  the  bright 
lights  and  the  fragrant  flowers;  among  these  always 
the  Calla  lily  and  the  hyacinth.  .  .  In  that  chapel 
many  young  hearts  made  the  resolve  which  led  on  to 
the  holy  ministry,  of  which,  in  its  highest  type,  the 
loving  teacher,  and  eloquent  preacher,  was  so  perfect 
an  exponent."* 

In  some  late  words  of  Dr.  Muhlenberg's  regarding 
the  peculiar  services  of  the  College  chapel,  he  says:  "If 
we  practised  more  or  less  of  ritualism,  it  was  certainly 
not  of  the  Eomish  type,  but  the  product  of  imagi- 
nation in  accordance  with  the  verities  of  our  religion. 
As  educational  means,  I  believe  these  services  had  only 
a  happy  effect  on  the  minds  of  the  young,  though  some 

*  Eev.  Dr.  L.  Van  Bokkelen. 


NOT   OF    THE   ROMISH   TYPE.  149 

of  my  brethren  in  the  ministry,  formerly  my  pupils, 
say  that  they  were  the  germs  of  their  present  taste  for 
churchly  ceremonial  and  ornamented  (?)  services." 

He  made  carols,  songs,  and  hymns,  and  the  tunes  for 
them.  Among  these  double  compositions  at  this  time, 
were  "Jesus'  name  shall  ever  be,"  "Jerusalem,  Jerusa- 
lem," "  The  mellow  eve  is  gliding,"  and  the  well-known 
Christmas  piece,  "Carol,  brothers,  carol." 

In  1842  he  wrote  a  pendant  to  this  last,  with  the 
same  tune  and  chorus,  which  he  called  the  "Wreath- 
makers'  Ballad."  The  production  of  this  little  piece 
was  made  the  occasion  of  one  of  those  sweet,  home- 
like condescensions,  common  to  St.  Paul's  College. 
Dr.  Muhlenberg  kept  the  composition  a  secret,  except 
towards  a  few  chosen  singers  and  musicians,  whose 
aid  he  needed,  and  when  these  were  well  practised 
for  a  performance,  he  led  them — they  and  their  instru- 
ments decked  with  evergreens — into  the  room  where 
the  wreath-makers  were  at  work  for  the  Christmas 
decorations  of  the  chapel.  Then  came  the  full  burst 
of  harmony  and  song,  to  the  surprised  delight  of  the 
boys.  The  following  is  the  first  verse  of  the  ballad, 

"Go  ye  to  the  woodland, 

Where  the  laurel  grows, 
Where  the  running  vine  is 

Green  beneath  the  snows, 
Bring  ye  goodly  branches, 

Cedar,  box,  and  pine, 
To  make  the  chapel  beauteous, 

Wreath  on  wreath  we'll  twine." 


150  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

He  often  led  the  young  choristers  himself,  both  on 
the  organ  and  in  singing,  having  a  surpassingly  fine 
baritone  voice,  which — his  scholars  say — carried  all 
before  him. 

The  above-mentioned  lyric  was  of  course  designed 
to  be  sung  by  those  engaged  in  arraying  the  chapel 
for  Christmas.  It  is  an  illustration  of  the  graceful, 
hallowed  sentiment  with  which,  in  the  least  particu- 
lars, he  sought  to  invest  any  service  of  the  sanctuary ; 
and  again,  of  his  genuine  delight  in  beautifying  the 
house  of  the  Lord,  independently  of  any  traditional  or 
ecclesiastical  prescription;  reminding  one  here  of  St. 
Jerome,  in  his  panegyric  on  his  friend  Nepotian,  where 
he  makes  it  a  part  of  the  "  commendable  character  "  of 
the  latter,  that  he  "took  care  to  have  every  thing 
neat  and  clean  about  the  church,  and  made  flowers, 
and  leaves,  and  branches  of  trees  contribute  to  the 
beauty  and  order  of  the  holy  place."  .  .  .  "These 
were  but  small  things,"  says  St.  Jerome,  "  but  a  pious 
mind,  devoted  to  Christ,  is  intent  upon  things,  great 
and  small,  and  neglects  nothing  that  may  deserve  the 
name  of  the  very  meanest  office  in  the  church."  * 

Another  and  very  different  composition  of  this  period 
was  the  Ode  sung  at  the  dinner  given  to  Lord  Ash- 
burton  by  the  merchants  of  New  York  on  the  con- 
clusion of  the  treaty  (Aug.,  1842),  which  settled  the 
northeastern  boundary,  and  other  questions  of  long 
dispute  between  Great  Britain  and  the  United  States. 

*  Bingham's  Antiquities  of  the  Christian  Church. 


THE    ASHBURTON  DINNER.  151 

Dr.  Muhlenberg  had  greatly  at  heart  the  amity  of 
the  two  countries.  In  the  year  1838,  Jan.  4th,  he  had 
written  in  his  journal:  "Trouble  on  the  border.  The 
Canadians  have  burned  an  American  steamboat.  '  0 
God,  who  makest  wars  to  cease,  interpose  with  thy 
Spirit  and  let  not  war  disturb  our  land.  Avert  from  us 
its  horrors,  nor  let  the  unnatural  sight  be  seen  of  sister 
nations  engaged  in  strife  and  bloodshed.' "  He  had  so 
painfully  appreciated  the  dangerous  position  of  affairs 
that  the  sealing  of  peace  through  the  Ashburton  treaty 
was  a  pure  joy  to  his  heart;  and  although  making  it 
a  rule  to  decline  all  invitations  to  dinner-parties,  and, 
certainly,  never  attending  public  dinners,  the  cause 
of  the  present  festivity  so  exhilarated  him,  that  almost 
spontaneously,  he  threw  off  the  first  stanza  of  this 
gratulatory  ode.  Then  he  hesitated,  questioning  if  it 
were  consistent  in  a  clergyman  to  indite  a  song  for  a 
convivial  occasion.  He  was  encouraged  by  his  friend 
Dr.  Wainwright  to  complete  the  composition,  and  did 
so.  It  was  forthwith  set  to  music,  and  sung  by  Mr. 
Horn  at  the  dinner,  as  follows: 


ODE. 

All  hail  to  Brittannia !  henceforth  we  are  one ! 
And  hail  to  our  guest,  her  American  Son.* 
O'er  the  Lion  and  Eagle,  now  hovers  the  dove: 
To-day,  there's  a  banquet  of  national  love. 

*  So  called  from  his  American  relations.  Lord  Ashburton  married  a  Miss 
Bingham  of  Philadelphia,  and  their  son  William,  who  succeeded  his  father  in  the 
title,  was  born  in  that  city. 


152  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

Chorus. 

O  long  live  their  glory,  united  and  free, 
The  Imperial  West,  and  the  Queen  of  the  Sea. 

The  Cross  of  St.  George,  and  Columbia's  Stars, 
Oh !  ne'er  be  they  stained  in  unnatural  wars; 
With  the  olive  entwine  them — a  sign  to  the  world 
Of  freedom  and  peace,  wherever  unfurled; 

Chorus. 

O  long  live  their  glory,  united  and  free, 
The  Imperial  West,  and  the  Queen  of  the  Sea. 

By  our  ancestors'  blood— by  the  spirit  they  breathed; 

By  their  time-honored  laws — by  the  rights  they  bequeathed; 

By  the  muses,  the  sages,  of  soul-ruling  powers; 

By  a  Burke  and  a  Chatham,  though  Britain's  yet  ours: 

Chorus. 

O  long  live  their  glory,  united  and  free, 
The  Imperial  West,  and  the  Queen  of  the  Sea. 

By  Letters,  by  Science,  by  all  that  can  bind, 
In  links  never  broke,  heart  to  heart,  mind  to  mind; 
More  than  all  by  our  FAITH — that  bulwark  of  might, 
To  the  Ruler  and  ruled — Magna  Charta  of  right; 

Chorus. 

O  long  live  their  glory,  united  and  free, 
The  Imperial  West,  and  the  Queen  of  the  Sea. 

Bright  day  for  the  earth  when  her  two  freest  lands, 
In  concord  anew  have  plighted  their  hands, 
One  more  to  the  compact  of  Liberty  sealed; 
For  the  sake  of  mankind  to  be  never  repealed; 

Chorus. 

Then  long  live  their  glory,  united  and  free, 
The  Imperial  West,  and  the  Queen  of  the  Sea. 


AN  ORDER    OF    TEACHERS.  153 

With  Dr.  Muhlenberg's  unresting  originating  power, 
numerous  projects  in  the  interest  of  Christian  educa- 
tion floated  through  his  mind  in  these  days,  and  not 
all  of  them  wholly  abortive,  though  of  too  remote  or 
transient  a  character  to  claim  attention  here.  Two  of 
the  number  may  be  excepted,  which  took  so  much 
of  substantial  form  as  to  clothe  themselves  in  a  printed 
prospectus,  in  connection  with  his  existing  work.  The 
one,  "A  Fund  for  the  Education  of  Teachers  in  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church,"  was  a  development  of 
his  deep  conviction  of  the  necessity  of  an  order  of 
trained  teachers,  in  the  church,  who  should  choose  the 
office  as  a  vocation,  on  the  same  high  and  self-sacri- 
ficing principle,  as  a  choice  for  the  ministry  is  as- 
sumed to  imply.  An  organization  was  formed;  a  re- 
sponsible body  of  trustees  created,  and  some  funds 
raised  which  inured  to  the  support  of  a  number  of 
prospective  teachers,  under  the  auspices  of  St.  Paul's 
College,  but  was  no  further  extended. 

Some  words  of  Dr.  Muhlenberg's,  in  urging  this 
design,  ought  not  to  be  lost.  "The  education  of  en- 
lightened Christian  teachers,"  he  wrote,  "is  second  only 
to  the  education  of  the  clergy,  and  is  equally  the  prop- 
er business  of  the  church.  Provision  for  it  should  be 
permanent  and  large.  Christianity,  in  order  to  retain 
her  ascendency  in  the  land,  must  train  up  capable  and 
conscientious  instructors,  as  well  as  learned  and  faith- 
ful ministers.  The  pastor  and  the  school-master  should 
go  hand  in  hand.  It  is  the  policy  of  infidelity  to 
sever  them.  Let  it  be  the  wisdom  and  the  patriotism 


154  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

of  Christianity  to  unite  them,  until  everywhere,  the 
Church,  the  College,  and  the  School  be  regarded  as  a 
common  cause." 

The  other  project  grew  out  of  the  ardent  desire, 
which  was  ever  present  with  him,  to  do  more  for  poorer 
boys.  He  had  always  a  number  of  free  scholars  in  the 
Institute  and  College ;  one  tenth  of  the  whole  was  his 
rule;  and  these  were  always  youths  supposed  to  show 
some  fitness  for  the  sacred  ministry,  or  for  teaching. 
But  the  remaining  nine-tenths,  in  order  to  his  making 
ends  meet,  had  to  be  students  able  to  pay  three  hun- 
dred dollars  a  year  for  their  board  and  tuition,  and 
with  his  deep  sympathy  for  the  poor  of  Christ's  flock, 
he  grudged  giving  himself  so  largely  to  the  sons  of 
the  rich.  In 'this  feeling  he  planned  a  distinct  estab- 
lishment on  the  College  grounds,  which  he  proposed 
should  be  called  "Cadets'  Hall,"  for  the  training  of 
young  soldiers  of  the  church  militant  from  among  an- 
other class  than  that  of  most  of  his  scholars.  There 
were  to  be  plainer  accommodations  and  a  plainer  edu- 
cation, at  a  cost  not  exceeding  one  hundred  dollars  a 
year,  taking  into  account  certain  labors  to  be  performed 
by  the  boys  as  a  compensation  in  part  for  their  main- 
tenance; a  plan  approximately  carried  out,  it  may  be 
added,  thirty  years  later  at  St.  Johnland. 

It  failed  to  come  to  pass  at  College  Point,  when  every 
thing  promised  well  for  its  initiation,  mainly,  it  would 
seem,  through  the  withdrawal  of  the  young  clergyman 
upon  whom  Dr.  Muhlenberg  had  relied  to  take  the  in- 
ternal headship  of  the  Institution.  He  was  always  more 


A    BIRTHDAY  IN  RETIREMENT.  155 

concerned  for  the  right  sort  of  workers  than  for  pecu- 
niary means,  largely  as  his  projects  demanded  of  the 
latter;  and  had  a  regal  way  of  saying,  "What  is  money? 
Only  let  us  have  the  man  !  "  Again :  "  Money  will  not 
make  the  man  for  the  work,  but  the  right  man  will,  in 
time,  secure  the  money." 

Numerous  prose  compositions,  longer  or  shorter,  were 
produced  during  this  educational  period,  principally 
for  the  use  or  benefit  of  the  School  and  College, 
but  some  for  the  church  at  large.  Among  the  latter 
may  be  named  Hints  on  Catholic  Union,  in  1835;* 
Claims  of  the  Holy  Week,  1840, f  and  Devotions  for 
Holy  Week,  with  the  Litany  of  the  Passion,  in  1842. 
The  Collects  of  this  Litany,  so  beautiful  in  their  chaste 
fervor  and  primitive  simplicity,  were  afterwards  incor- 
porated in  the  Directory  of  St.  Johnland.  f 

On  the  16th  of  September,  1842,  Dr.  Muhlenberg 
completed  his  forty-sixth  year.  It  was  vacation  time, 
and  his  journal  shows  that,  with  a  slight  interruption, 
he  spent  the  whole  day  in  retirement  and  devotion. 
His  personal  religion  was  no  child's  play,  but  the 
wrestlings  of  a  giant  for  victory,  or  rather  a  meek  saint's 
ceaseless  agonizing  in  "perfecting  holiness."  His  en- 
lightened and  delicate  conscience  induced  an  exalted 
ideal;  and  then  he  took  the  Gospel  precepts  as  he 
found  them,  in  their  native  force  and  directness,  not 
weakening,  or  attempting  to  explain  away,  as  some 
do,  the  passages,  "  Be  ye  perfect,"  "  If  any  shall  smite 

*  Ev.  Cath.  Papers,  First  Series,  p.  11. 
t  Ibid.,  p.  598.  J  Ibid.,  p.  59. 


156  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

thee  on  the  one  cheek,"  "Give  to  him  that  asketh  of 
thee,"  and  the  like,  but  making  such  his  standard  of 
Christian  duty  in  their  plain  and  obvious  meaning. 

In  all  that  appears  in  his  diary  of  these  spiritual 
conflicts,  it  is  remarkable  that  the  antagonist  he  most 
strenuously  and  persistently  does  battle  with,  is  what 
he  calls  his  "constitutional  indolence."  In  the  face  of 
his  pre-eminence  in  good  works,  and  the  laboriousness 
of  his  service  for  the  church,  this  sounds  like  an 
affectation  or  distortion  of  conscientiousness.  But  not 
so.  He  was  too  real  to  affect  any  thing,  and  too  sen- 
sible to  be  mistaken.  Moreover,  beyond  most,  he  un- 
derstood himself. 

There  were  strong  opposites  in  his  nature.  He  had 
an  excitable  imagination,  lively  sensibility,  and  great 
mental  activity,  yet,  was  undoubtedly,  all  along,  tor- 
mented by  a  physical  vis  inertice,  which  was  only  con- 
quered through  very  vigorous  and  unremitting  effort. 
"Mr.  Supine,"  he  would  sometimes,  half-sadly,  half-play- 
fully  call  himself;  or  again :  "I  feel  like  a  log  floating 
on  the  sluggish  stream  of  life ;  but  a  divine  breath  stirs 
the  air,  and  I  resuscitate."  In  his  boyhood  he  had 
written,  "I  should  be  the  happiest  of  mortals  if  I 
could  be  industrious,"  and  in  the  first  year  of  his  min- 
istry in  Lancaster,  we  find  him  saying,  "Once  more 
I  have  determined  to  keep  a  diary,  to  record  my  expe- 
rience, and  how  I  spend  my  time,  hoping  through  God's 
grace,  it  will  be  a  check  on  my  indolence." 

It  is  said  "  we  are  most  that,  of  which  we  are  least 
conscious."  It  was  eminently  so  here.  Dr.  Muhlen- 


HIS    CHRISTIAN   WATCHFULNESS.  157 

berg  never  seemed  aware  how  great  a  worker  lie  was, 
nor  could  he  understand  any  chance  compliment  paid 
him  to  that  effect.  To  "  him  that  overcometh,"  is  the 
seven-fold  promise;  this  may  explain  the  paradox  of 
a  naturally  indolent  temperament,  with  an  abundantly 
fruitful  life.  The  higher  the  house  is,  the  deeper  must 
be  the  foundation,  and  the  conflict  was  probably  all 
the  more  severe,  that  it  was  so  little  apparent ;  though 
those  nearest  to  him  were  always  well  aware  of  his 
jealousy  in  "redeeming  the  time."  With  St.  Paul  the 
habitual  sentiment  of  his  life  was,  "Not  as  though  I 
had  already  attained."  Were  it  proper  to  transcribe  the 
more  secret  exercises  of  his  soul,  what  has  been  feebly 
said  above  would  be  very  powerfully  and  encouragingly 
illustrated ;  making  it  evident  that  his  superior  growth 
in  holiness  was  less  the  result  of  any  extraordinary 
spiritual  gifts,  than  of  the  ordinary  grace  of  God,  most 
persistently  and  earnestly  used. 

A  single  leaf  from  these  Sacra  Privata,  may  be  given 
as  exhibiting  his  Christian  watchfulness  in  another  di- 
rection: "I  have  just  read  M 's  reply  to  B .  I 

have  no  doubt  of  the  correctness  of  his  representations. 

B is  an  intolerant  man — save  me,  0  God,  from  a 

similar  spirit.  In  thy  providence  I  have  many  persons 
and  things  under  my  control,  but  grant  I  may  never  set 
up  undue  claims.  May  I  always  recognize  the  rights 
of  others ;  may  I  never  expect  a  mean  dependence  and 
servile  compliance  from  those  whom  I  have  benefited, 
or  laid  under  obligations.  Let  me  be  always  patient, 
condescending,  and  forbearing.  0  give  me  the  mind 


158  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

of  Jesus  Christ.  I  know  the  danger  I  am  in  of  looking 
for  too  much  deference  from  those  about  me.  But,  0 
save  me.  Guide  and  direct  me  always.  Preserve  me 
from  personal  vanity.  I  would  hide  myself  wholly  be- 
hind my  Saviour.  Take  me  as  an  instrument,  0  my 
God,  and  use  me  for  thy  glory ! " 


CHAPTER   XL 

1843-1844. 

Fifteen  Years  of  Unbroken  Service.— Onerous  Labors.— A  Holiday.— Trac- 
tarianism. — Its  Impression  on  him. — Notes  from  Journals. — Voyage  to 
Europe. — Arnold  Buffam. — Sight-seeing. — A  Breakfast  at  Oriel. — John 
Henry  Newman. — Dr.  Pusey. — Ravished  with  Oxford. — In  Paris. — The 
Wesleyan  Chapel. — The  Saintly  Professor. — Preparations  for  Return. — 
A  sincere  Prayer  Answered. — His  Ecclesiastical  Position. 

THE  prime  of  Dr.  Muhlenberg's  life  was  spent  in  the 
toilful  seclusion  of  his  school  and  college ;  and  without 
any  more  remission,  during  fifteen  years,  than  the  or- 
dinary school  vacation.  He  went  on,  session  after  ses- 
sion, throwing  himself  with  sincerest  interest  into  the 
present  concerns,  and  future  welfare,  of  his  young 
charge;  making  a  parent's  allowances  for  failure,  yet 
never  relaxing  the  standard  of  excellence  at  which 
they  were  to  aim,  always  looking  steadily  at  the  end 
set  before  him,  amidst  the  continual  heedlessness,  per- 
verse ness,  and  unthankfulness  incident  to  the  task. 

Did  he  never  weary  all  this  while,  his  courage  never 
flag,  nor  his  spirits  droop?  Sometimes.  His  strong 
faith  never  faltered,  nor  was  he  ever  left  without  that 
which  he  esteemed  his  greatest  reward — namely,  tokens 
of  God's  grace  working  in  the  hearts  of  some  of  his 
scholars ;  but  the  secular  cares  inseparable  from  his  po- 


160  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

sition  often  pressed  heavily  upon  him,  and  so  many  con- 
tinuous years  of  school  routine,  sensibly  crushed  down 
the  natural  elasticity  of  his  mind. 

After  being  in  harness  nine  years,  he  had  written: 
"I  feel  'stale,'  as  the  boys  say,  and  need  freshening. 
...  At  fifty  I  shall  be  superannuated,  unless  I  have 

a  little  play-spell School,  school,  school! 

Boys!  Servants! — I  fear  I  shall  be  an  irritable  old 
man  if  I  remain  surrounded  by  these  vexations,  with- 
out a  chance  of  rallying  my  strength." 

Nature  and  Common  Sense,  as  well  as  Christian  Pru- 
dence cried  "  stop  awhile,"  and,  thus  impelled,  he  made 
those  plans  for  a  two  years'  sojourn  abroad,  which  were 
so  painfully  set  aside  by  the  death  of  his  only  brother. 

In  the  year  1843,  the  long-sought  opportunity  of  ab- 
sence came,  but  only  as  a  summer  holiday.  Questions 
were,  at  that  time,  agitating  the  church  on  both  sides 
of  the  Atlantic,  which  on  his  part  gave  heightened  in- 
terest to  a  visit  to  England.  Tractarianism  was  at  its 
height.  Dr.  Pusey  and  John  Henry  Newman  were  on 
every  one's  lips.  The  earnestness  of  these  leading 
minds,  and  of  the  Oxford  men  generally,  had  greatly 
impressed  Dr.  Muhlenberg.  He  read  their  works,  and 
felt  their  subtle  power,  while  by  no  means  prepared  to 
accept  their  fundamental  church  principles.  "Like  all 
great  movements,  this  of  the  Tractarians  had  its  min- 
gled elements,  and  while  in  reality,  it  was  based  011 
dogmatic  and  ecclesiastical  claims,  which  made  it  most 
uncatholic,  there  were  at  the  outset,  certain  features 
that  won  the  sympathy  of  many  devout  minds.  To 


TRACTARIANISM.  161 

them  it  seemed  the  awakening  of  the  sleeping  forces  of 
the  church  of  Christ.  Who  does  not  remember  how  it 
kindled  Christian  art  and  poetry,  created  new  plans  of 
charity,  built  free  chapels  and  threw  off  the  cold  for- 
malism of  the  service  ?  With  men  of  the  large  spirit  of 
Dr.  Muhlenberg,  it  was  impossible  to  regard  it  without 
appreciation  of  such  true  features."  * 

He  was,  for  some  three  years,  more  or  less  positive- 
ly, under  the  influence  of  these  sentiments.  He  read 
Newman's  and  Manning's  Sermons  in  the  College 
chapel,  and  the  Instructors  became  faster  scholars  in 
the  essential  teachings  of  those  writers  than  himself. 
We  do  not  find  any  sermons  from  his  own  pen,  at 
this  period,  and  his  journals  make  only  slight  allu- 
sions to  the  new  ecclesiastical  element,  germinating 
in  the  Institution.  These  memoranda  are  more  bro- 
ken and  fragmentary  than  formerly,  but  they  are 
filled,  as  heretofore,  with  minutes  of  his  engrossing 
daily  cares,  and  the  old,  never-ceasing  strivings  for 
the  salvation  of  his  boys.  Now  and  then,  appear  jot- 
tings, glancing  at  "  Puseyism,"  and  which  as  inci- 
dentally showing  us  something  of  the  workings  of 
his  mind  on  that  subject  are  worth  transcribing. 
After  one  of  the  voluntary  meetings,  he  writes: 

"We  might  have  a  genuine  revival  of  religion^  for 
the  boys  are  ready  for  it,  but  I  am  left  so  much  alone. 
The  Instructors  are  excellent  men,  but  do  not  feel  called 
upon  to  make  special  efforts  for  the  conversion  of  indi- 

*  Rev.  E.  A.  Wasliburn,  D.D. 
11 


162  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

vidual  boys.  Our  present  state  is  certainly  unfavorable 
to  zeal." 

" .  .  .  .  Kead  one  of  Bishop  Bull's  sermons  in  the 
chapel.  I  must  pay  more  attention  to  these  sound  Eng- 
lish divines. — They  say  Oxford  divinity  puts  Christ 
out  of  sight — not  in  my  soul.  Blessed  Jesus,  thou 
knowest  from  first  to  last, — Thou  art  my  only  hope. 
My  own  righteousness?  I  abhor  it." 

".  .  .  .  Went  to  see  Morse's  telegraph — wonder- 
ful invention.  With  democracy  and  the  advancement 
of  physical  science,  man  will  be  Lord,  instead  of  God. 
I  see  another  antichrist  than  that  of  Rome." 

" .  .  .  .  Bought  Watts'  Divine  Songs  for  Children 
at  the  American  Tract  Society,  and  some  engravings  at 
the  Sunday  School  Union.  Somehow  I  have  a  remain- 
ing affection  for  these  ' Schism atical  Shops.'" 

".  .  .'  .  Called  on  Dr.  .  Told  him  I  agreed 

to  his  article  in  the  Churchman  on  Toleration  of  the 
Romanizers,  but  that  it  must  be  extended  equally  in 
the  other  direction.  'No,  no,'  he  exclaimed,  'in  that 
quarter  there  must  be  extermination.'  'Then,'  said  I, 
'We  part  company,'  and  part  company  we  must  in 
church  matters,  for  I  shall  not  fall  into  his  ranks. — I 
told  him  he  failed  in  being  a  great  man,  just  where  so 
many  have  failed:  'To  party  gave  up  what  was  meant 
for  mankind.' " 

He  sailed  for  England  in  the  ship  Siddons,  the  end 
of  April,  1843,  taking  with  him  two  of  his  graduated 
pupils  as  travelling  companions.  The  College  was  left 
in  the  hands  of  a  competent  corps  of  professors  and 


FRIEND   BUFF  AM.  163 

instructors,  with  the  Kev.  Dr.  Waiiiwright,  afterwards 
Bishop  of  New  York,  in  the  rector's  place,  as  its  re- 
sponsible head;  the  secular  affairs  of  the  institution, 
meanwhile,  devolving  upon  the  Eev.  Libertus  Van 
Bokkelen,  one  of  his  church  sons,  and  for  many  years 
his  most  efficient  business  associate,  as  secretary  of 
the  Institute  and  College. 

The  letters  and  journals  of  this  holiday  show  the 
joyous  rebound  of  his  spirits,  let  loose  from  their 

long  pressure.  His  first  letter  to  ,  at  College 

Point,  written  at  sea,  illustrates  pleasingly  his  merry 
humor  and  other  features  of  his  character.  The  fol- 
lowing is  an  extract: 

"We  shot  off  from  Sandy  Hook  with  a  stiff  north- 
wester that  carried  away  two  of  our  sails  during  the 
night.  The  motion  made  me  sick,  but  I  was  well 
again  by  the  next  night,  and  so  have  continued  with 
a  good  appetite  and  excellent  spirits  ever  since.  I 
have  read  a  great  deal,  and  written  two  sermons, 
preaching  yesterday,  and  the  Sunday  preceding.  On 
the  first  Sunday  we  were  out,  I  read  only  the  service ; 
so  many  of  the  passengers  were  sick,  any  thing  more 
was  not  desirable.  .  .  .  You  would  be  gratified 
to  see  what  an  American  I  show  myself,  already. 
There  is  an  Old  Hickory  Quaker  abolitionist  on  board, 
who,  in  his  zeal  against  slavery,  abuses  his  own  coun- 
try so  outrageously,  before  a  number  of  Englishmen, 
that  I  can  not  help  telling  him  my  mind  on  some 
points,  even  at  the  expense  of  being  thought  a  slavery 
man  by  the  passengers.  He  is  a  very  sharp  old  fel- 


164  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

low,  and  has  all  his  facts  ready,  so  that  I  do  not  ven- 
ture to  encounter  him  in  argument.  We  have  often 
wished  you  were  here,  and  then  we  should  have  rare 
sport.  He  is  quite  a  spouter,  and  is  going  to  the 
'World's  Convention'  to  be  held  in  London  on  sla- 
very, where  I  dare  say  he  will  make  a  figure.  Per- 
haps you  have  heard  of  him — Arnold  Buifam.  He 
is  the  most  conspicuous  character  among  us,  and  has 
contributed  not  a  little  to  relieve  the  monotony  of  the 
voyage.  A  German  gentleman  on  board  seriously  ob- 
served to  P ,  whom  by  the  way  the  old  abolition- 
ist vexes  exceedingly  by  breaking  down  P 's  reg- 
ular logic  with  his  facts  (Alas !  that  he  has  so  many 
facts) — 'that  we  must  look  after  that  old  fellow  in 
England,  or  he  will  do  our  country  a  great  deal  of 
harm.' — So  you  see,  we  are  going  to  look  after  him, 
and  are  devising  what  we  shall  do  to  keep  him  from 
going  to  the  'World's  Convention' — for  only  think  of 
the  tall,  gray-headed,  gold-spectacled  patriarch  stand- 
ing in  his  place  at  Exeter  Hall,  and  telling  the  thou- 
sands there,  that  'for  the  last  forty  years  the  Amer- 
ican Congress  has  not  passed  one  act  except  for  the 
benefit  of  the  Southern  States,  so  much  does  the  slave- 
holding  interest  predominate  over  every  other  in  the 
country' — and  that  'the  object  of  the  Southerners  in 
the  last  war  was  only  that  the  English  might  destroy 
the  Northern  cities  and  towns' — and  similar  speeches 
that  he  has  made  to  us.  It  will  never  do — we  must 

contrive   some   measures  for  gagging  him,  for  P 

vows  he's  a  regular  traitor.     Accordingly,  should  you 


MR.    NEWMAN.  165 

hear  of  our  getting  into  difficulty,  by  an  attempt  on 
the  old  gentleman,  you  must  set  it  to  the  account  of 
my  amor  patrice.  After  all,  to  tell  you  the  truth,  I  con- 
sider '  Friend  BuiFam '  a  genuine  American — that  is,  he 
carries  out  our  American  principles,  as  they  are  held 
in  the  abstract,  to  their  legitimate  consequences.  In 
politics,  religion,  and  his  utilitarian  philosophy,  he 
is  a  genuine  Democrat." 

The  trip  was  an  enjoyable  one.  He  kept  lively  run- 
ning notes  of  the  journey  throughout,  which  show  that 
while  he  did  his  duty  diligently  in  sight-seeing,  accord- 
ing to  the  guide-books,  he  acquainted  himself  besides 
with  many  persons  and  places,  more  interesting  to  the 
philanthropist  than  to  the  ordinary  tourist.  He  looked 
into  the  English  factories  and  visited  a  colliery,  de- 
scending a  shaft  to  the  mine  for  the  purpose ;  inform- 
ing himself,  as  opportunity  served,  of  the  inside  of 
things,  and  looking,  with  the  eye  of  the  Christian 
philosopher,  upon  much  that  escapes  the  common 
gaze. 

His  letters  of  introduction  gave  him  access  to  the 
chief  dignitaries,  and  others  of  the  English  Church, 
who  treated  him  with  marked  kindness;  though  he 
complains  that  Mr.  Newman,  the  one  above  all  others 
with  whom  he  desired  to  converse  at  length,  afforded 
him  no  opportunity  to  do  so,  albeit  otherwise  suffi- 
ciently kind  and  polite.  What  he  records  of  his  im- 
pressions as  to  the  latter  is  a  testimony  to  his  pene- 
tration and  sagacity,  justified  by  succeeding  events. 

"June  26th,  1843.     We  breakfasted  according  to  in- 


166  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

vitation  with  Mr.  Newman,  in  the  common  room  at 
Oriel  College.  Mr.  N.  talked  a  great  deal,  continually 
introducing  new  and  indifferent  topics,  apparently  with 
the  view  of  preventing  my  introducing  any.  He  was 
exceedingly  polite,  but  did  not  seem  altogether  at  ease. 
He  was  as  gracious  as  possible,  but  gave  no  encourage- 
ment to  intimacy.  He  said  nothing  which  could  be 
repeated  to  his  disadvantage,  or  which  he  might  not 
have  said  to  any  one  the  most  hostile  to  his  sentiments. 
The  simplicity  of  his  manner  did  not  strike  me  as  alto- 
gether real.  He  is  not  transparent,  yet  seems  to  be 
artless.  If  he  were  an  accomplished  Jesuit  (which  God 
forbid  I  should  say  he  is)  his  manner  would  be,  I  fancy, 
just  what  it  is.  I  do  not  believe  that  he  is  in  any 
secret  understanding  with  Eome — but  I  have  no  doubt 
that  he  and  his  immediate  friends  and  followers  have 
more  sympathy  with  the  Komanists  than  with  any  class 
of  the  clergy  in  his  own  church.  He  made  tea  for  us, 
put  the  butter  on  our  plates  before  we  sat  down,  and 
got  up  from  the  table  several  times  to  do  little  matters 
while  we  were  at  breakfast." 

u  Sept.  16.  Took  a  fly  with  K.  to  Littleinore  .  .  . 
Newman  again  very  gracious.  Had  heard  of  me,  he 
said,  from  Mozely  and  by  letter  from  Dr.  Seabury. 
Appeared  very  glad  to  see  me,  invited  K.  and  myself 
right  off  to  dine  with  him  to-morrow  at  Oriel.  In  ten 
minutes  we  were  in  our  fly  again.  .  ." 

"Sunday,  Sept.  17.     Heard  Mr.  Newman  at  St.  Mary's 

from  Isaiah — 'All  things  new.'     (Completely  himself.) 

Dined  with   him  in  the   common   room   at 


DOCTOR    PUSEY.  167 

Oriel.  .  .  .  He  asked  questions  about  the  Ameri- 
can Church — said  'that  as  so  many  of  our  clergymen 
came  over  from  the  Dissenters  he  thought  they  might 
be  likely  to  go  further,  i.  e.,  to  Rome.'  He  bade  us 
good-by,  very  kindly.  Welcomes  the  coming,  speeds 

the  parting  guest.  K thinks  I  am  too  suspicious 

of  Newman." 

He  had  a  more  satisfactory  interview  with  Dr.  Pusey, 
which  he  thus  describes: 

"Called  on  Dr.  Pusey  at  Christ  Church  College. 
He  sent  word  by  his  servant  woman  that  he  was  sick, 
but  that  he  would  see  me.  I  hesitated  at  first,  but 
went  in — found  him  lying  on  his  sofa,  his  room  rather 
in  confusion,  filled  with  books,  papers,  etc.  T  had 
sent  in  my  general  letters  from  the  bishops,  and 
after  sitting  a  little  while  gave  my  letter  from  Dr. 
Seabury,  with  the  American  edition  of  his  letter  to 
the  Bishop  of  Oxford,  with  the  marginal  notes  of  the 
Florida  popish  priest.  Thinking  I  had  come  on  a  beg- 
ging expedition,  Dr.  P.  said  he  feared  I  would  find 
them  so  much  oppressed  by  their  own  objects,  that  I 
could  not  do  much,  but  I  soon  relieved  him  of  his 
mistake.  He  then  talked  freely  and  very  kindly.  He 
dwelt  upon  the  want  of  men — men  of  plain,  good  sense 
and  warm  hearts — to  labor  among  the  common  people, 
for  which  they  would  be  qualified  without  a  university 
education.  I  told  him  that  in  America  we  felt  the  same 
want,  and  that  some  of  our  bishops  would  be  glad  to 
have  provision  made  for  ordaining  men,  as  deacons,  to 
advance  no  further  in  the  ministry.  He  thought  they 


168  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

would  have  to  come  to  that  in  England.  '  Such  men,' 
he  observed,  '  might  be  more  useful  in  certain  situations 
than  better-educated  men.  They  could  enter  more  into 
the  feelings  of  plain  people,  and  use  their  plain  lan- 
guage, often  more  expressive  and  affecting  than  .our 
Latinized  English  both  in  conversation  and  preaching.' 
He  said  he  noticed  a  great  increase  of  seriousness 
among  the  young  men  of  the  university,  and  on  this 
and  other  subjects  connected  with  the  prospects  of  the 
church  spoke  as  a  devout  man  full  of  faith  in  God." 

In  relation  to  this  interview  with  Dr.  Pusey  a  little 
incident  of  seven  years  later  date,  may  be  mentioned. 
Dr.  P.,  in  inquiring  of  some  American  guests  about 
Dr.  Muhlenberg,  said:  "He  was  the  most  interesting 
visitor  we  ever  had  from  the  other  side."  When  this 

was  repeated  to  Dr.  M ,  he  instantly  disclaimed  it, 

saying — "  Dr.  Pusey  has  forgotten,  or  makes  a  mistake ; 

he  meant  some  one  else;  Dr. ,  probably."     But  the 

mistake  was  Dr.  Muhlenberg's.  , 

He  was  ravished  with  Oxford  itself:  "Oh  the  sur- 
passing beauty  of  those  academic  shades !  The  sweet 
gardens  of  St.  John's  College,  can  I  ever  forget  that 
Eden — Magdalene  College — The  beautiful  cloisters,  the 
velvet  sward,  Addison's  walk!  What  shall  I  say  of 
my  emotions  on  first  seeing  these  venerable  seats  of 
religion  and  learning.  Their  hallowed  air — their  som- 
bre elegance — their  exquisite  architecture !  " 

The  month  of  August  was  spent  in  Paris,  visiting 
all  the  usual  points  and  places  of  interest,  getting  a 
glimpse  of  the  glittering  shows,  and  seeing  more  than 


THE    WESLEYAN   CHAPEL.  169 

one  specimen  of  the  morals,  of  that  centre  of  civiliza- 
tion. If  he  did  not  say,  with  one  of  his  lay  friends, 
passing  through  the  gay  metropolis,  "I  should  be 
afraid  of  myself  to  stay  here  any  length  of  time,"  he 
did  say:  "Often  I  ask  myself,  'What  am  I  doing 
here?'  How  much  am  I  out  of  my  element.  I  long 
to  be  at  home  again ! " 

On  a  certain  Sunday,  instead  of  dining,  as  his  trav- 
elling companions  did,  with  the  chaplain  of  the  Brit- 
ish Embassy  where  he  had  attended  church  in  the 
morning,  he  writes:  "Dined  at  the  Ordinary  at  half- 
past  five;  at  seven  o'clock  went  to  a  Wesleyan  Meth- 
odist chapel  in  Rue  Royale.  I  can  not  help  saying 
that  I  enjoyed  myself.  To  pass  from  the  gayety  and 
dissipation  of  the  Place  de  la  Concorde,  amusement  and 
frolic  on  every  side,  into  a  little  assembly  of  devout 
worshippers,  where  every  thing  was  plain,  quiet,  and 
solemn,  was  a  grateful  relief.  I  joined  heartily  in  the 
hymns  in  which  all  united — the  tunes  Devizes  and  St. 
Ann's.  The  sermon,  on  the  bliss  of  Heaven,  was  a 
plain  and  earnest  discourse,  and  pleased  me  as  well, 
with  one  or  two  exceptions,  as  any  I  have  heard  abroad 
— I  can  not  say  as  much  for  the  extemporary  prayers 
which  were  too  familiar.  The  preacher  seemed  to  be 
a  good  man.  A  collection  was  made  for  the  extension 
of  pure  religion  on  the  Continent,  to  which  I  could  not 
refrain  from  giving  a  five-franc  piece.  .  .  .  If  I  had 
passed  the  evening  at  the  chaplain's,  talking  about  the 
amusements  of  Paris,  etc.,  it  would  have  been  '  all 
right'  with  some  of  my  friends,  but  spending  an  hour 


170  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

as  I  did,  was  'grievously  wrong,'  they  thought.     I  fear 
my  heart  will  always  be  Low  Church.     .     .     ." 

While  in  Paris,  he  fell  much  in  love  with  a  saintly 
French  Koman  Catholic,  M.  Meynier,  whom  he  had  en- 
gaged to  give  him  a  lesson  in  the  language  at  seven 
o'clock  every  morning — "I  am  delighted  with  my 
French  teacher,"  he  writes,  "  one  of  God's  elect.  Little 
use  in  my  attempting  to  learn  much  of  French,  but  I 
am  glad  to  know  such  a  man.  Here  are  some  of  the 
professor's  sentiments:  'We  are  looking  out  for  some- 
thing. The  divine  element  in  many  is  breathing  night 
and  day  for  the  Holy  Spirit.  This  element  is  publicly 
absent  from  the  whole  church,  but  stirring  in  the  hearts 
of  individuals  crying  unceasingly  for  his  coming.  We 
are  in  a  transition  state,  wraiting  for  a  new  dispensation 
that  shall  restore  and  harmonize  the  church.  I  read 
the  Bible.  St.  Paul  and  St.  John  are  better  than  all  the 
doctors.' " 

"On  my  remarking,"  wrote  Dr.  M.,  "that  Paris  is 
a  very  bad  place,  the  professor  said,  'It  is  the  worst 
and  the  best  place  in  the  world.  Here  are  a  great 
many  charities  and  six  thousand  young  men  who  de- 
vote themselves  to  works  of  piety  and  mercy.' " 

He  made  proposals  to  M.  Meynier  to  return  with 
him,  probably  with  a  view  to  his  engagement  in  St. 
Paul's  College.  The  idea  was  entertained  a  little  while, 
but  then  given  up.  After  their  final  lesson,  he  thus 

wrote :  "  M.  M declines  going  to  the  United  States 

at  present.     He  is  looking  for  some  manifestation  of 
the  church  in  France,  and  thinks  it  must  soon  appear 


HOMESICK.  171 

— wants  to  see  Home  again.  I  felt  sorry  in  parting 
with  him.  He  gave  me  an  affectionate  kiss  on  each 
cheek." 

Dr.  Muhleiiberg  had  arranged  to  make  the  passage 
home  with  Captain  Nye  in  the  Independence,  which  was 
to  sail  from  Liverpool,  Sept.  25th.  In  order  to  spend 
a  few  more  weeks  in  England,  he  left  Paris  on  the 
30th  of  August.  On  the  point  of  departure  he  writes : 
"  Spent  the  greater  part  of  the  morning  in  packing  up. 
What  an  employment  for  a  traveller  in  Paris,  at  such 
a  time  of  day !  Why  was  I  not  in  the  Louvre  again  ? 
Eeally,  I  believe  I  am  homesick,  and  there  was  a  kind  of 
comfort  in  communing  with  my  portmanteau.  Boys !  I 
forgive  your  annual  disobedience,  in  getting  down  your 
trunks  a  week  before  vacation." 

He  was  back  again  among  his  boys,  in  October, 
soon  after  the  beginning  of  the  session.  He  returned 
neither  confirmed  nor  disenchanted  as  to  Tractarian- 
ism,  but  in  a  state  of  vibration,  ecclesiastically,  with 
undoubtedly  a  preponderance  towards  Oxford.  In  a 
subsequent  entry  in  his  journal,  after  noting  several 
Anglican  writers  whose  works  he  had  been  studying, 
he  adds:  "May  God  show  me  my  error  if  I  am  wrong 
in  thinking  that  these  men,  in  the  main,  are  right !  " 

This  sincere  prayer  was  granted.  In  what  manner 
can  be  most  authentically  told  in  his  own  words,  as  con- 
tained in  a  brief  statement  of  his  ecclesiastical  position, 
made  for  a  specific  purpose,  in  the  year  1872,  as  follows : 

"I  was  never  a  High  Churchman.  Eeceiving  my 
theology  from  Bishop  White,  the  Apostolic  Succession 


172  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

and  Sacramentarian  doctrine  were  alike  foreign  to  my 
system, — if  I  ever  had  a  system;  but  I  have  been 
claimed  by  High  Churchmen  because  of  my  Liturgic, 
or  what  would  be  now  called  Kitualistic,  propensities, 
or,  to  use  another  word — aesthetic. 

"As  for  the  demonstrations  of  my  religion,  they  were 
a  combination  of  the  dramatic,  the  devout,  and  the 
reverential  elements  in  my  nature,  sanctified  more  or 
less,  I  trust,  by  divine  grace.  I  have  never  been  an 
actor,  nor  cared  for  spectators,  yet,  I  delighted  in  the 
scenic,  which,  as  far  as  church  performances  were  con- 
cerned, was,  I  always  flattered  myself,  imagination 
consecrated  by  religion. 

"My  church  school  at  Flushing  and  College  Point, 
so  many  of  the  pupils  of  which  are  of  the  High  Church 
party,  was  not  such  in  theory;  which  was,  that  relig- 
ious instruction,  to  be  effective,  must  be  according  to 
some  one  existing  system.  Christianity  can  not  be  in- 
culcated in  the  abstract.  As  an  Episcopalian,  of  course, 
I  could  only  train  my  pupils  as  Episcopalians.  On  the 
same  principle  as  a  Presbyterian  could  only  train  his 
as  Presbyterians.  At  the  beginning  of  the  Institute 
at  Flushing,  Bishop  Hobart  saw  this,  and  said  it  was 
defective  in  churchmanship,  as  my  pupils  would  be 
taught  that  the  Episcopal  was  not  the  one  church,  but 
one  of  the  Protestant  churches.  Afterwards,  however, 
seeing  there  was  so  much  of  church  order  in  the  school, 
he  commended  it  to  his  diocese  and  once  adminis- 
tered the  rite  of  confirmation  to  a  class  from  among 
the  pupils. 


THE    SNARE   BROKEN.  173 

"When  the  'Tracts  for  the  Times'  appeared,  I  was 
much  interested  in  them,  and  still  more  in  Mr.  New- 
man's sermons.  These,  I  must  confess,  captivated  me. 
I  read  them  frequently  in  the  chapel  of  St.  Paul's  Col- 
lege, and  frankly  acknowledge  that  for  some  three 
years,  I  might  have  been  classed  among  the  Puseyites. 
Yet,  how  radically  wanting  I  was  in  their  system,  may 
be  judged  from  the  fact  that  I  never  received  the  doc- 
trine of  Baptismal  Kegeneration. 

"But  the  Instructors  caught  the  infection,  and  4Pu- 
seyism,'  not  however  to  the  degree  attributed  to  us, 
prevailed  in  the  religious  sentiment  of  the  College. 
Then,  I  began  to  see  that  its  logical  results  were  Ko- 
manism;  and  from  that,  if  it  were  the  truth,  I  would 
not  shrink. 

"Mr.  Newman's  'Doctrine  of  Development,'  fully 
opened  my  eyes.  I  well  remember,  how,  having  read 
half  through  the  book,  I  tossed  it  from  me,  exclaiming, 
'My  soul  is  escaped  as  a  bird  from  the  snare  of  the 
fowler,'  and  some  of  my  then  pupils,  now  in  the  min- 
istry, will  recollect  the  emphasis  with  which  I  repeated 
to  them  these  words:  'I  was  far  out  on  the  bridge,  so 
to  speak,  that  crosses  the  gulf  between  us  and  Kome. 
I  had  passed  through  the  mists  of  vulgar  Protestant 
prejudices,  when  I  saw  before  me  "The  Mystery  of 
Abomination."  I  flew  back,  not  to  rest  on  the  pier  of 
High  Churchism,  from  which  this  bridge  of  Puseyism 
springs,  but  on  the  solid  rock  of  Evangelical  truth,  as 
republished  by  the  Keformers.' 

"  When  I  began  the  Church  of  the  Holy  Communion, 


174  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

as  I  have  often  said,  I  was  in  the  Penumbra  of  Pusey- 
ism  which  had  its  effect  in  giving  the  style  to  the  ar- 
chitecture of  the  church,  and  particularly  to  the  can- 
opy with  its  decorations,  over  the  Holy  Table.  In 
defence  of  the  latter,  it  must  be  remembered  that  it 
is  the  Open  Bible  and  not  the  Host  that  is  there  en- 
shrined. But  though  it  is  no  more  than  what  we  see 
in  many  a  Lutheran  church,  I  could  wish  it  had  less 
the  appearance  of  a  Eoman  altar,  considering  the  imi- 
tations of  the  Roman  mass,  now  so  often  seen  in  our 
churches." 


CHAPTER    XII. 

1844-1846. 

Forgetting  the  Things  Behind. — New  Subject  for  Creative  Talent. — Con- 
templates Relinquishment  of  College. — What  he  had  Accomplished 
for  Christian  Education. — The  Church  of  the  Holy  Communion. — Why 
not  St.  Sacrament? — Peculiar  Constitution  of  Parish. — Architecture  of 
the  Church.— Its  Interior.— Evangelical  Catholic  Symbolism. — Church 
Opened  for  Divine  Worship. — Consecration  by  Bishop  Ives. — Last 
Labors  for  St.  Paul's  College. — Its  End. — Success  of  his  Educational 
Work. — Reminiscences  of  Scholars. — Bishop  Bedell's  Tribute. — Anec- 
dote.— Church  Sisterhoods. — A  Bow  Drawn  at  a  Venture. — The  First 
Sister. — Answer  to  a  Young  Man  asking  his  Friendship. — "Our  Souls 
must  work  together." 

"FORGETTING  the  things  that  are  behind,"  was  a  fa- 
vorite saying  of  Dr.  Muhlenberg's,  and  indicative  of 
a  marked  tendency  of  his  life  to  press  on  towards  the 
development  of  a  new  thought,  as  soon  as  that  which 
he  had  in  hand  was  fully  demonstrated.  At  this  time, 
an  ideal  parish  occupied  his  field  of  vision,  through  the 
purpose  of  his  sister,  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Eogers,  in  pursu- 
ance of  the  wishes  of  her  deceased  husband,  to  build 
a  free  church  in  the  city  of  New  York.  She  naturally 
expected  her  brother  should  be  the  pastor  of  this 
church,  and  there  were  circumstances  which  seconded 
his  inclinations  in  that  direction. 

If  the  projected  college  edifice  had  been  completed, 
it  is  possible  he  might  not  have  felt  himself  equally 


176  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

at  liberty  to  surrender  his  present  charge,  but  not- 
withstanding much  earnest  and  persistent  effort  to 
that  end,  the  stone  walls  of  the  basement  story  re- 
mained as  they  were  left  in  1836,  while  the  buildings 
in  use  at  the  Point,  from  their  insufficiency  of  private 
rooms  for  the  students  of  the  higher  College  classes, 
had  become  increasingly  inconvenient. 

Without  a  suitable  permanent  edifice  he  could  not 
satisfactorily  go  on,  and  he  began  to  be  impressed  with 
the  conviction  that  he  had  possibly  done  enough  for 
education  in  presenting,  what  he  believed  to  be,  the 
pattern  of  a  true  Christian  seminary  of  learning.  He 
was  not  mistaken  in  this  conviction,  for  at  the  time 
of  which  we  speak,  schools  modelled,  so  far  as  might 
be,  after  St.  Paul's,  had  sprung  up  in  all  directions. 
Every  diocese  became  ambitious  to  have  one,  and 
bishops  and  doctors  of  the  church  had  resorted  to 
College  Point,  and  sat  at  his  feet,  as  learners  of  his 
methods.* 

The  contemplated  church  presented  a  new  and  de- 
lightful subject  for  his  creative  talent,  arid  he  hailed 
his  sister's  proposition  as  an  opening,  in  the  ordering 
of  providence,  for  exemplifying  his  long-cherished  the- 

*  Among  the  institutions  which  thus  had  birth,  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Libertus  Van  Bokkelen,  names  the  following:  The  Raleigh  Epis- 
copal Institute,  N.  C. ;  the  High  School,  Alexandria,  Va. ;  Rev.  Dr. 
Bowman's  Lancaster  School,  Pa. ;  Bishop  Mcllvaine's  schools,  Gam- 
bier,  Ohio;  Jubilee  College,  Illinois;  St.  James's  College,  Hagers- 
town,  Md. ;  and  the  schools  of  Bishops  Keinper  and  Otey,  in  their 
respective  dioceses. 


CHURCH  OF   THE   HOLY  COMMUNION.  177 

ory  of  the  Church  of  Christ  as  a  Brotherhood,  and  also 
for  setting  forth  a  more  reverent  and  expressive  ritual 
of  worship  than  as  yet  prevailed. 

The  "  Church  of  the  Holy  Communion  "  he  christened 
liis  conception,  ere  yet  the  details  of  the  structure  were 
matured.  "  Why  not  call  your  church  *  St.  Sacrament,' 
at  once?"  said  his  friend  Dr.  Seabury,  on  hearing  the 
name.  "  Because  that  is  not  at  all  my  idea,"  replied 
Dr.  Muhlenberg;  "but  communion  or  fellowship  in 
Christ,  of  which  the  sacrament  is  the  divinely  appointed 
bond ; "  and  in  his  address  at  the  laying  of  the  corner- 
stone, on  July  24th,  1844,  he  yet  more  fully  explained 
himself,  thus: 

"  Let  this  sanctuary  be  called  the  Church  of  tJie  Holy 
Communion.  Nor  let  it  be  only  a  name.  Let  it  be  the 
ruling  idea  in  forming  and  maintaining  the  church,  and 
in  all  its  ministrations.  Here  let  there  be  a  sanctuary 
consecrated  especially  to  fellowship  in  Christ,  and  to 
the  great  ordinance  of  His  love.  This  will  rebuke  all 

the  distinctions  of  pride  and  wealth As 

Christians  dare  not  bring  such  distinctions  to  the  table 
of  the  Lord,  there,  at  least,  remembering  their  fellow- 
ship in  Christ  and  their  common  level  in  redemption, 
the  high  and  the  low,  the  rich  and  the  poor,  gathered 
together  around  the  sacred  board;  so  let  the  same 
brotherhood  prevail,  let  there  be  no  places  for  the  dif- 
ferences of  worldly  rank  in  the  Church  of  the  Holy 
Communion."  * 


*  See  Evangelical  Catholic  Papers,  Second  Series,  page  79. 
12 


178  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

The  church  was  to  be  supported  by  the  offertory,  as 
in  primitive  times,  every  one  laying  by,  according  as 
God  had  prospered  him,  against  the  first-day  of  the 
week;  and  it  was  not  to  be  placed  in  the  hands  of  a 
vestry. 

Mrs.  Kogers  retained  the  proprietorship  in  the  be- 
ginning, after  which  it  was  conveyed  to  a  body  of  trus- 
tees, of  which  Dr.  Muhlenberg  became  one.  Hence, 
the  Church  of  the  Holy  Communion  was  not  represent- 
ed in  Convention.  Dr.  Muhlenberg  always  deplored 
the  incongruity  of  elements,  composing  those  bodies 
in  the  church;  maintaining  that  a  true  Council  of  the 
Church  should  consist  solely  of  communicating  mem- 
bers, and  further,  that  the  delegates,  representing  a  par- 
ish, should  be  elected  by  the  communicants  of  that  par- 
ish, all  voting  alike.  Speaking  of  the  peace  and  love 
which  he  hoped  would  always  prevail  in  the  new 
church,  he  adds:  "From  one  source  of  contention  at 
least,  that  of  ecclesiastical  politics,  a  church  will  be 
free,  which  will  maintain  its  outward  union  with  the 
Body  at  large,  only  through  the  union  of  the  Pastor 
and  the  people  with  their  Bishop,  and  so  preserve  its 
unity  by  adhering  to  the  'fellowship  of  the  Apostles.'" 

The  architecture  of  the  church,  a  pure  specimen  of 
English  Gothic,  people  called  "Upjohn's  best."  Mr. 
Upjohn  was  the  architect,  but  both  the  style  of  the 
building,  and  its  minutest  details  came  under  the  close 
direction  of  Dr.  Muhlenberg's  taste  and  reverential 
spirit.  He  brought  to  this  creation  symbolism  essen- 
tially the  same  as  that  which  he  had  so  long  employed 


EVANGELICAL    CATHOLIC   SYMBOLISM.  179 

in  St.  Paul's  College,  but  more  artistic  and  costly. 
They  who  were  associated  with  him  in  those  days, 
remember  to  have  heard  little  or  nothing  of  this  or 
that  ecclesiological  authority  and  custom,  as  influenc- 
ing aesthetic  points.  The  question  was  the  significa- 
tion and  beauty  of  the  proposed  symbol. 

The  interior,  as  he  left  it,  was  full  of  pure  evangelic 
Catholic  meaning.  The  ever-open  Bible  standing  under 
the  simple  chancel-cross;  below  it,  on  the  altar  cloth, 
the  unchanging  command  of  our  Divine  Lord — "This 
do,  in  remembrance  of  me "  ;  high  above  these,  with 
its  primitive  forms  and  symbols,  the  great  east  window, 
making  a  background  of  rich  soft  coloring  for  the 
whole.  In  the  centre  of  the  beautiful  wheel  window 
of  the  south  transept,  a  circle  enclosing  a  cross,  with 
the  intersected  legend — "  All  and  in  all ; "  and  in  the  six 
sections  radiating  from  this  centre,  emblems  of  the 
offices  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  as  our  Prophet,  Priest, 
and  King,  and  of  the  order  and  ministry  of  the  church ; 
— and  the  pure  white  marble  font  with  its  carved 
wreath  of  water-lilies  encircling  the  words — "  He  that 
belie veth  and  is  baptized  shall  be  saved." 

The  building  was  sufficiently  completed  for  use  in 
May,  1846,  and  was  consecrated  by  Bishop  Ives  on  the 
third  Sunday  in  Advent  of  that  year;  the  diocese,  un- 
happily, through  the  suspension  of  Bishop  Onderdonk, 
being  virtually  without  a  head.  In  this  emergency 
Dr.  Muhlenberg  had  anticipated  that  his  old  friend, 
Dr.  Milnor,  would  preside  at  so  much  of  a  consecra- 
tion service  as,  under  the  circumstances,  they  expected, 


180  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

but  this  venerable  man  died  very  suddenly,  before  the 
church  was  finished,  and  when  the  time  came,  advan- 
tage was  taken  of  a  sojourn  of  Bishop  Ives  in  the  city 
to  obtain  his  services  for  the  occasion. 

During  the  two  years  occupied  by  the  projection  and 
building  of  the  church,  Dr.  Muhlenberg  gave  himself 
with  unremitting  fidelity  to  his  charge  in  St.  Paul's 
College,  revolving  at  the  same  time  many  plans  for  the 
continuance  of  the  Institution  when  it  should  pass  out 
of  his  hands.  Eventually  the  Rev.  Mr.  J.  G.  Barton, 
the  Senior  Professor  of  Greek  and  Latin,  of  whom 
honorable  mention  has  been  made  in  connection  with 
the  College  commencement  of  1839,  became  his  suc- 
cessor. But,  owing  to  various  causes,  the  work  did  not 
long  survive  the  withdrawal  of  its  founder.  Within 
three  or  four  years  St.  Paul's  College  ceased  to  ex- 
ist, and  the  buildings  and  land  were  sold  to  a  private 
purchaser.  This  last,  however,  not  without  an  en- 
deavor, fruitless  through  the  pressure  of  his  city  work, 
to  preserve  the  place  to  the  church  as  a  country 
orphanage. 

The  educational  period  of  Dr.  Muhlenberg's  history 
was  so  eminent  in  results  that  his  scholars  may  be 
justified  from  their  standpoint,  in  claiming  as  they  do, 
that  his  best  work  was  comprised  within  these  eighteen 
years,  though  in  reality  those  labors  were  but  the  foun- 
dation of  yet  greater  works,  which  one  after  another 
grew  with  his  life  into  one  symmetrical  whole  of  use- 
fulness and  beauty.  But  it  is  true,  that  "beyond  all 
the  ties  of  family  he  belonged  to  his  boys."  They  were 


TRUE    ALMS-GIVING.  181 

his  children,  and  know  better  than  any  other  could  do 
the  lovableness  of  his  character,  "so  grand  in  its  sim- 
plicity, so  full  of  tenderness,  while  replete  with  power, 
so  childlike  in  its  true  humility,"  and  so  totally  unself- 
ish, that  his  actions  were  neither  tarnished  nor  tram- 
melled by  any  aspiration  after  earthly  honor  or  gain. 

One  of  his  oldest  spiritual  sons  throws  light  on  the 
interior  life  of  the  school  and  its  master  in  the  follow- 
ing extracts  from  a  recent  letter :  * 

".  .  .  .  Dr.  Muhlenberg  had  no  eccentricities  of 
mind  or  manner,  no  oddities  of  any  kind,  nothing  in 
short  differing  from  most  men  that  I  have  ever  met, 
except  the  deep  reality  and  entire  unselfishness  that 

pervaded  the  whole  tone  of  the  Christian  man 

All  that  I  can  now  recall  of  special  incidents  at  the 
Institute,  resulted  directly  from  some  principle  in  prac- 
tical life  taught  by  him  to  the  boys.  For  example: 
One  day  he  called  them  together  and  read  to  them 
from  the  newspapers,  a  statement  of  destitution  and  dis- 
tress among  some  German  emigrants  recently  landed  in 
New  York.  He  then  asked  them  whether  they  would 
like  to  give  something  in  relief.  In  an  instant,  there 
were  loud  and  vociferous  offers.  One  said,  Til  give 
two  dollars,'  another,  Til  give  one,'  another  three,  all 
were  ready  to  give  something,  and  thus  a  large  sum 
was,  at  once,  subscribed.  But  the  boys,  by  a  standing 
rule  of  the  Institute,  were  not  allowed  spending  money, 
except  to  a  very  limited  extent,  and  there  was  not 

*  Kev.  Dr.  J.  W.  Diller  to  the  writer,  Aug.  10th,  1879,  in  reply  to 
a  request  for  some  incidents  of  the  Institute  days. 


182  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

money  enough,  in  the  pockets  of  all  of  them  put  to- 
gether, to  pay  more  than  a  small  portion  of  the  sum 
they  wanted  to  give.  The  Doctor  then  said  to  them 
that  he  had  no  doubt  their  parents  would  be  gratified 
to  pay  the  several  sums  named,  if  made  an  item  of 
charge  in  their  school  bills,  but  what  he,  at  present, 
wanted  to  know  was  what  they  would  give  themselves, 
without  calling  upon  their  parents,  i.  e.,  he  wanted 
them  to  give  their  own  alms.  And  so,  he  asked  them, 
'Are  you  willing  to  give  these  poor  creatures  your 
dinner?'  There  was  a  general  response  of  assent, 
but  it  was  not  vociferous  like  the  other.  It  was  sub- 
dued, yet  earnest  and  sincere.  Then  the  matter  for 
decision  was,  How  shall  it  be  done?  And  it  was  de- 
cided thus,  to  select  two  of  the  most  expensive  week- 
day dinners — for  Sunday  was  always  a  feast — to  make 
their  own  meal  on  plain  bread  and  molasses  on  those 
two  days,  and  to  give,  through  Dr.  Muhlenberg,  the 
difference  in  cost  to  the  needy  emigrants.  This  differ- 
ence, in  a  large  family  amounted  to  a  goodly  sum, 
which  was  thus  the  result  of  the  self-denial  of  the 
boys  and  others.  This  incident  illustrates  the  prin- 
ciple taught  by  the  Doctor,  that  self-denial  for  the 
purpose  of  giving  is  held  to  be  a  part  of  acceptable 
giving  at  all  times.  There  is  no  such  thing  as  giv- 
ing of  that  which  costs  us  nothing. 

"Again:  Almost  all  the  lessons  for  recitation  were 
prepared  in  two  rooms,  called  the  '  Large  Study,'  and 
the  'Little  Study.'  In  the  former  there  was  always 
an'  instructor  to  preserve  order,  and  to  have  a  general 


THE   LITTLE   STUDY.  183 

oversight.  In  the  *  Little  Study,'  used  by  the  older  and 
more  meritorious  boys,  there  was  not  the  presence  of 
an  instructor,  the  boys  were  expected  to  refrain  from 
conversation,  and  to  attend  faithfully  to  their  studies; 
and  were  at  liberty  to  leave  the  room  at  their  discre- 
tion. This  plan  of  trusting  to  the  honor  of  the  boys 
worked  admirably  well.  It  was  a  great  matter  to  be 
promoted  from  the  big  to  the  little  study.  ...  A 
similar  practice  was  observed  in  regard  to  quiet  in  the 
dormitories,  and  keeping  within  the  bounds  of  the 
Institute  grounds. 

"Occasionally,  when  a  boy  became  so  frequently 
troublesome  as  to  be  on  the  point  of  being  dismissed 
from  the  school,  one  of  the  others,  who  was  of  exem- 
plary habits,  or  sometimes  one  of  the  instructors,  in  or- 
der to  avoid  the  boy's  dismission,  became  security  for  the 
delinquent  for  a  time,  say  for  one,  two,  or  three  weeks. 
The  meaning  of  security  was  fully  explained,  and  the 
recipient  of  the  kindness  was  made  to  understand,  that 
any  future  misconduct  of  the  kind  complained  of,  would 
be  charged  to  the  security.  .  .  .  This  gave  an  un- 
usual, and  powerful  stimulant  to  the  boy  who  had  done 
ill,  to  do  well  in  future.  It  was  necessary  to  conduct 
the  whole  matter,  very  discreetly,  and  in  most  cases, 
the  result  was  very  favorable.  It  fostered  sentiments 
of  kindness  and  love  on  both  sides,  touched  the  secret 
springs  of  family  love,  gave  the  thought  of  one  medi- 
ating for  another,  and  thus  suggested,  and  helped  to 
keep  in  mind,  the  infinitely  higher  love,  and  greater 
mediation  of  which  we  all  are  recipients.  .  .  ." 


184  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

Another  pupil,  writing  to  his  former  schoolmates  on 
a  special  occasion,  indulges  in  the  following  tender  ret- 
rospect: "Doctor  Muhlenberg  was  never  the  school- 
master to  us.  I  remember  as  though  it  were  yesterday, 
the  first  time  I  was  placed  under  his  care.  It  was  the 
autumn  of  1829.  I  was  almost  an  orphan,  and  although 
quite  young  had  already  passed  three  years  at  boarding 
school,  when  I  was  sent  to  Flushing.  The  first  evening 
we  were  summoned  to  family  prayers.  This  little  cir- 
cumstance, with  the  fervor  of  him  who  led  the  devotions, 
were  things  so  new  to  me  that  they  made  a  lasting  im- 
pression. I  remember  distinctly  the  room,  and  all  the 
circumstances,  and  I  think  every  pupil  who  ever  came 
to  Flushing  must  have  known  intuitively,  at  the  very 
first  contact,  as  I  did  then,  that  he  was  forming  a  tie, 
which  differed  from  that  of  master  and  pupil.  Young 
as  we  were,  I  am  sure  we  realized  that  it  was  not  for 
earthly  gain,  nor  earthly  honor,  that  our  Principal  had 
withdrawn  himself  from  the  world,  and  from  society, 
where  he  was  so  fitted  to  shine.  A  loftier  aim  was  evi- 
dent, even  to  our  youthful  apprehensions, — and  we  saw 
that  he  esteemed  it  little  profit  to  us,  if  we  conquered 
the  subtleties  of  language  or  mathematics,  and  thought 
not  of  a  higher  victory.  You  all  know  how  warm  and 
often  tender  a  friendship,  seemed  to  spring  up  towards 
him  in  the  breast  of  all  who  came  to  him ;  how  it  seemed 
untouched  by  the  boyish  resentment  which  usually  fol- 
lows correction  and  punishment;  and  how,  even  with 
the  incorrigible,  the  parting  was  always  in  sorrow,  per- 
haps in  tears,  but  never  in  anger  or  unkindness.  We 


FIFTY  SONS   IN   THE    MINISTRY.  185 

remember,  and  can  never  forget,  that  voice  of  gentle  re- 
monstrance, which  so  affectionately  pleaded  with  us  to 
beware  of  evil,  and  turn  to  Christ,  in  the  day  of  our 
youth." 

At  the  beginning  of  the  Institute,  Dr.  Muhlenberg 
had  most  fervently  prayed  that  among  the  sons  whom 
he  should  bring  up  might  be  some  who  would  become 
ministers  of  the  Gospel.  This  was  the  one  earthly 
reward  he  asked,  and  it  was  signally  granted.  As 
early  as  the  year  1834,  he  saw  this  fruit  on  which  he 
had  set  his  heart,  beginning  to  ripen  under  his  hand, 
and  in  his  private  diary  thus  pours  out  his  happiness : 
"The  prospects  are  animating — Oh,  the  joy  of  being  a 
coworker  with  God — of  being  the  means  of  raising  to 
his  glory  a  temple  on  earth  where  many  souls  may 
be  born  to  life  everlasting — I  have  enough  success  to 
believe  that  God  is  with  me,  and  to  be  an  earnest 
that  he  will  enable  me  to  do  what  I  long  to  do  for 
the  honor  of  His  Name." 

He  estimated  the  number  of  pupils  during  his  rector- 
ship as  approximately  nine  hundred,  about  fifty  of 
whom,  counting  some  of  his  college  students  who  ac- 
companied him  to  New  York  to  complete  their  studies, 
entered  the  ministry  of  the  church.*  Bishop  Bedell  of 
Ohio,  may  be  named  from  the  fact  of  his  having  been 
one  of  the  earliest  pupils  of  the  Flushing  Institute. 

*  The  Rev.  Dr.  Jacob  "W.  Diller  and  Bishop  Kerfoot  of  Pittsburg 
were  among  the  first-fruits  of  the  school.  Bishop  K.,  for  some 
years,  as  chaplain  of  the  College,  rendered  valuable  assistance  in 
spiritual  work  among  the  boys. 


186  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS   MUHLENBERG. 

He  entered  on  the  first  day  of  the  occupancy  of  the 
building,  and  before  work  was  actually  begun.  The 
following  extract  from  a  tribute  of  the  bishop's  to  his 
"dear  old  Master,"  in  a  Convention-address,  is  to  the 
purpose  here:  "During  these  years  Dr.  Muhlenberg 
laid  the  impress  of  his  character  upon  some  eight  hun- 
dred boys.  Those  who  survive  are  now  men,  most  of 
them  are  in  positions  where  they  touch  the  very  springs 
of  society,  and  direct  the  forces  that  are  moving  this 
age.  One  has  played  his  part  well  in  diplomacy,  and 
still  is  wielding  political  influence.*  Another  stands 
to-day  among  the  chiefs  in  our  commercial  metropolis, 
and  lately  welcomed  the  president  into  that  great  com- 
pany which  controls  the  finances  of  our  land.f  An- 
other, the  sweet  boy-singer  leader  of  the  school  choir, 
is  now  heard  through  his  hymnal  in  hundreds  of  our 
churches  and  leads  the  devotion  of  thousands  of  souls 
as  he  learned  to  do  when  we  were  boys  together  at 
Flushing.  J  Another  stands  prominently  among  critics 
of  the  English  tongue.  §  Others  lead  at  the  bar  or  in 
medical  life.  Many  are  clergymen.  Three  are  bishops 
— of  Northern  New  Jersey,  Pittsburg,  and  Ohio.  || " 
Bishop  Bedell  further  says — "I  chanced  to  go  into  a 

*  John  Jay,  Ex-Minister  to  Austria;  later,  Chairman  of  Civil  Service 
Keform  Committee,  investigating  New  York  Custom  House. 

t  Samuel  D.  Babcock,  President  of  Chamber  of  Commerce,  New 
York. 

\  John  Ireland  Tucker,  D.D.,  of  Troy. 

§  Richard  Grant  White. 

||  The  late  Bishop  Odenheimer,  Bishop  Kerfoot,  and  Bishop  Bedell. 


EVERY  SCHOLAR    A    DEAR    CHILD.  187 

butcher's  stall  in  a  market  in  New  York  a  year  or 
two  ago,  and  casually  dropped  Dr.  Muhlenberg's  name 
while  speaking  to  my  companion.  The  butcher  laid 
down  his  knife  and  asked,  'Do  you  know  him?'  I 
replied.  And  then  he  said,  'I  once  went  to  school  to 
him  for  a  year.  How  I  would  love  to  see  him !  Do  you 
think  I  might  call  on  him  ? '  I  met  the  doctor  that  day 
and  told  him  the  incident.  The  next  morning  scarcely 
had  the  butcher  opened  his  stall,  when  his  old  master 
— nearly  eighty  years  of  age — stood  beside  him,  and 
the  hard  hand  of  toil  was  clasped  within  the  loving- 
grasp  of  one  to  whom  every  scholar  was  a  dear  child 

never  forgotten Blessed  the  boys  that  had 

such  a  teacher  and  fragrant  is  his  memory  to  every 
one  that  ever  sat  as  a  learner  at  his  feet." 

The  part  of  his  life  given  by  Dr.  Muhlenberg  to  the 
Institute  and  College  was  necessarily  a  period  of  much 
retirement  and  comparative  obscurity.  Beyond  the  re- 
pute of  his  work,  and  the  publicity  incident  to  the  con- 
duct of  its  immediate  affairs,  he  came,  personally,  lit- 
tle in  contact  with  the  outer  world,  and  was  not  much 
known  even  to  his  brother  clergymen  in  the  city  of 
New  York.  During  the  last  years  of  these  labors,  zeal 
for  the  honor  of  his  church  forced  him  for  a  little  while 
into  some  prominence,  but  in  a  matter  so  wholly  apart 
from  his  own  history  that  it  is  not  necessary  here  to 
revive  its  painful  details. 

In  the  summer  of  1845,  he  gave  the  initiatory  im- 
pulse to  a  Church  Sisterhood,  but  unconsciously  and  in- 
directly, in  the  first  instance,  both  on  his  own  part  and 


188  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

on  that  of  the  subject  of  his  influence ;  and  through  the 
rest  of  his  life,  he  would  revert  to  the  particulars  which 
follow  as  a  remarkable  Providence.  He  was  "on  the 
crest  of  the  advancing  wave"  in  the  matter  of  sister- 
hoods, as  in  other  points  of  church  progress.  There 
was  then  no  organization  of  the  kind  in  the  Episcopal 
Church,  either  in  America  or  in  England.  The  Luther- 
an deaconesses  were  beginning  to  be  spoken  of  as 
doing  a  good  work  in  the  little  village  of  Kaiserswerth, 
on  the  Khine,  and  the  picture  of  a  community  of  Chris- 
tian women,  consecrated  to  the  service  of  charity,  had 
entered  into  his  dreams  of  the  church  he  was  about 
to  establish,  but  he  had  not  given  his  mind  to  any 
plans  on  the  subject,  nor  taken  a  step  towards  the 
embodiment  of  his  idea,  when  it  was  somewhat  sig- 
nally precipitated. 

It  was  on  a  Sunday,  in  the  little  chapel  of  St.  Paul's 
College,  College  Point,  where  Dr.  Muhlenberg's  sister 
and  niece  and  some  lady  friends  were  spending  part  of 
the  summer  vacation.  The  rector  preached  a  sermon 
on  "Jephtha's  vow,"  with  an  application  glancing  at 
the  blessedness  of  giving  one's  self  undividedly  to 
God's  service.  The  suggestion  was  covert  and  guard- 
ed. Heading  over  the  manuscript  later,  there  seemed 
little  in  it  to  produce  a  very  marked  effect,  yet  the  ar- 
row from  the  bow  thus  drawn  "at  a  venture,"  was 
guided  by  a  Higher  Power,  straight  to  the  heart  of  at 
least  one  of  his  hearers.  The  latter  at  that  time  was 
too  little  acquainted  with  the  preacher  to  speak  freely 
of  the  deep  impression  received.  All  that  was  ven- 


INITIATION   OF   SISTERHOOD.  189 

tured  in  meeting  him  casually  after  the  service,  was  a 
brief  expression  of  the  interest  felt  in  the  discourse  and 
the  conviction  that  there  was  something  better  and 
happier  than  the  ways  of  our  every-day  Christianity. 
"Yes,"  Dr.  Muhlenberg  rejoined;  "'No  man  that  war- 
reth  entangleth  himself  in  the  affairs  of  this  life  that  he 
may  please  him  who  hath  chosen  him  to  be  a  soldier,' " 
and  after  this  single  utterance  passed  out  of  the  room. 
But  the  text  thus  spoken,  "was  a  nail  in  a  sure  place," 
which  thenceforth,  through  a  lifetime,  was  never  to 
loose  its  hold ;  and  from  this  germ,  was  developed  later, 
the  Sisterhood  of  the  Holy  Communion,  so  called,  from 
the  parish  under  whose  first  pastor  it  originated.  The 
formal  organization  of  the  community  took  place  later. 
This  first  Sister  was  consecrated  one  winter  evening  in 
the  church,  at  the  dispersion  of  the  congregation  after 
daily  service.  Besides  the  pastor  in  his  surplice  within 
the  chancel,  and  the  Sister  in  her  accustomed  dress 
kneeling  at  .the  rail,  the  only  other  present  was  the 
good  old  sexton,  waiting  to  put  out  the  lights.  The 
whole  was  as  simple  as  it  was  solemn. 

Those  were  days  of  great  excitement  in  the  Episcopal 
Church.  The  secession  of  Mr.  Newman  and  others  of 
the  Oxford  School  to  Kome  was  then  recent,  and  all 
parties  were  filled  with  alarm  at  whatever  they  thought 
tending  in  that  direction.  The  very  name  "Sister" 
would  have  been  obnoxious.  But  it  was  not  so  much 
prudence,  as  a  sense  of  the  sacredness  of  the  engage- 
ment, which  ruled  in  the  privacy  of  the  above  occasion. 
Observation  and  talk  would  kill  what  there  was  of  di- 


190  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

vine  life  in  this  germ.  All  true  growth  is  hidden  and 
silent.  So  a  reserve  on  the  subject  seemed  mutually, 
almost  tacitly,  understood. 

While  arranging  for  the  occasion,  it  transpired  that 
the  pastor  had  made  a  partial  engagement  to  be  present 
at  the  consecration  of  a  church  out  of  town ;  but  learn- 
ing the  Sister's  wish,  he  immediately  set  this  aside.  On 
her  demurring  at  any  change  of  plan  on  her  account,  Dr. 
Muhlenberg  at  once  replied,  "  What  is  the  consecration 
of  a  church  to  the  consecration  of  a  life !  " — a  trifling  in- 
cident, yet  illustrative  of  his  habitual,  instant  sympathy 
in  any  spiritual  endeavor.  How  great  a  power  for  good 
that  quick  Christly  sympathy  has  been  to  hundreds  and 
to  thousands  will  be  best  appreciated  by  those  who 
were  ever  favored  to  be  the  recipients  of  it.  Coming 
within  its  influence,  was  as  if  one  passed  from  under 
a  cold,  gray  November  sky,  with  its  leaden  landscape 
and  prospective  drudgery  of  winter  toil,  into  the  in- 
spiriting warmth  and  color  of  a  fine  June  morning. 
The  powers  of  heart,  mind,  and  soul  would  spring  to 
Christian  work,  as  though  treading  on  air,  or  rather  as 
borne  along  by  the  felt  support  of  those  words  which 
were  so  often  his  parting  charge  to  his  disciples :  "Be 
strong  in  the  Lord,  and  in  the  power  of  his  might."  So 
did  he  dignify,  ennoble,  idealize,  whatever  of  Christian 
service  he  came  in  contact  with. 

Thus  was  obtained  the  womanly  element  essential 
to  the  domestic  administration  of  the  various  chari- 
ties, already,  to  Dr.  Muhlenberg's  mental  vision,  clus- 
tering around  the  Church  of  the  Holy  Communion. 


SPIRITUAL    FRIENDSHIP.  191 

He  saw  the  future  Sisterhood.  But  in  its  first  mem- 
ber he  received  more  than  a  beginning  of  the  com- 
munity he  desired  to  organize;  for  counting  it  the 
noblest  of  privileges  to  work  under  such  a  leader, 
she  threw  her  life  heartily  and  unreservedly  into  all 
his  plans  and  aims,  with  unceasing  thanks  to  God  for 
the  opportunities  of  usefulness  so  largely  opening  up 
to  her  through  his  wise  and  holy  guidance.  Assur- 
edly, as  one  has  expressed  it,  "Dr.  Muhlenberg  met 
the  supreme  test  of  true  goodness  and  true  greatness; 
for  to  none  was  he  so  good  and  so  great,  so  pure,  so 
tender,  and  so  loving,  as  to  those  who  knew  him  best 
and  were  most  with  him."*  Naturally,  as  time  went 
on,  the  relation  thus  formed  grew  to  be  essentially  a 
paternal  and  filial  one,  the  difference  of  age  itself  induc- 
ing this.  The  church-sister  became  the  church-daugh- 
ter, and  the  constant  companion  of  his  labors  through- 
out the  rest  of  his  consecrated  life. 

The  spiritual  element  was  always  indispensable  to 
Dr.  Muhlenberg  in  any  thing  like  friendship.  To  a 
young  man,  a  stranger,  who,  in  a  very  remarkable  man- 
ner, once  ardently  importuned  his  affection,  but  whose 
way  of  life  lay  in  quite  a  different  direction,  he  said 
with  his  habitual  frankness:  "I  never  cared  much  for 
any  one  not  helpful  to  me  in  my  work  for  the  Lord ; " 
and  in  a  letter  to  one  whom  he  had  educated,  and  who 
was,  at  the  time,  ably  assisting  him  in  the  induction  of 
the  work  at  College  Point,  he  wrote:  ".  .  .  There- 

*  Bishop  Littlejohn  of  Long  Island. 


192  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS   MUHLENBERG. 

fore  it  is,  my  dear  son,  that  you  must  be  more  to  me 
than  a  business  man  in  the  College.  There  is  no 
communion  of  heart  in  dollars  and  cents,  in,  etc., 
etc.,  etc You  must  be  my  partner  in  the  ser- 
vice of  Jesus  Christ.  You  must  unite  with  me  in 
leading  the  young  to  the  kingdom  of  Heaven — our 
souls  must  work  together." 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

1846-1849. 

Began  Pastorate  in  New  York. — An  Educator  still. — His  Works  linked 
together. — The  Locality. — A  Congregation  Formed. — An  exceptional 
free  Church. — Its  Attractiveness. — Dr.  Muhlenberg  as  a  Preacher. — 
Pentecostal  Days. — Festival  and  Fast. — Care  for  poorer  Members. — 
A  Christian  House-warming. — The  Pastor's  Cloak. — First  Idea  of  St. 
Luke's  Hospital. — Thirty  Dollars. — Dearth  of  Hospital  Accommoda- 
tion.— How  to  begin  a  Work  of  Charity. — No  Charitable  Organizations 
in  the  City. — Dr.  Muhlenberg's  Influence  on  Inner  Life  of  the  Church. 
— Opposite  Elements. — Leaf  from  Journal. — What  Three  Years  Accom- 
plished.— Origin  of  Fresh  Air  Benefit. — First  Christmas-tree  for  the 
Poor. — Church  Seats. — Epigram  on  Pew  Auction. — Origin  of  Pews.— 
Bishop  Burnet  and  the  Court  Ladies. 

DR.  MUHLENBERG  was  within  a  few  months  of  com- 
pleting his  fiftieth  year,  when  he  began  his  work  in 
the  city  of  New  York.  He  was  at  the  meridian  of  his 
labors,  as  it  proved,  and  in  the  perfection  of  his  powers. 
"His  hair  was  already  whitening,  but  his  step  was 
rapid,  his  eyes  brilliant,  his  strong  features  full  of  sen- 
sibility, and  every  motion  suggestive  of  physical  and  of 
intellectual  activity  and  health."*  Together  with  this 
there  was  in  his  aspect  and  bearing  an  undefinable 
presence,  a  blending  of  greatness  and  humility,  with  a 
beaming  benignity  and  sweetness  which  frequently 
prompted  a  stranger  to  inquire,  "Who  is  that  re- 
markable-looking man  ?  " 

*  Rev.  Dr.  Edwin  Harwood. 
13 


194  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

Full  half  of  his  extended  ministry  lay  yet  before  him. 
The  greater  part  of  the  first  half  had  been  given  to  the 
instruction  of  youth ;  he  was  now  to  be  an  educator  of 
a  higher  sort  with  the  church  at  large  for  his  scholars. 
"  He  was  first  a  teacher  of  boys,  and  last  an  instructor 
in  charity."* 

At  the  same  time,  he  never  ceased  to  be  "  a  teacher 
of  boys."  To  his  life's  end,  he  had  them  always,  in 
one  way  or  another,  about  him;  and  if  so,  then,  as  a 
matter  of  course,  they  were  under  tuition  both  with 
regard  to  the  learning  of  this  world,  and  that  of  the 
next.  And  the  advancement  of  such,  the  consideration 
of  what  would  be  most  for  their  good,  was  ever  para- 
mount to  any  thought  of  his  own  convenience,  no  mat- 
ter what  the  relation  they  held  towards  him,  even 
were  the  lad  his  hired  attendant,  as  was  not  unfre- 
quently  the  case.  He  educated  many  a  youth  after 
he  left  St.  Paul's  College  far  in  the  distance  behind 
him.  And  his  different  works  became  linked  together 
by  this  tie:  the  Schools  of  Lancaster  to  the  Flushing 
Institute  and  St.  Paul's  College,  St.  Paul's  College  to 
the  Church  of  the  Holy  Communion,  and  this  again 
to  St.  Luke's  Hospital  and  St.  Johnland.  His  first 
three  assistants  in  the  Church  of  the  Holy  Communion, 
and  his  immediate  successor  in  the  parish  were  all 
from  among  his  pupils. 

In  removing  from  College  Point  to  the  city,  he  at 
once  gathered  around  him  several  young  men  and  boys, 

*  Bishop  Bedell. 


HIS   PLAIN  ABODE.  195 

as  his  household ;  the  former,  students  for  the  ministry, 
the  latter,  young  choristers,  whom  after  the  old  fashion 
he  took  into  his  heart  of  hearts,  as  his  very  sons.  He, 
at  first,  found  some  difficulty  in  securing  a  residence 
suited  to  his  purpose  in  sufficient  proximity  to  the 
church,  so  thinly  settled  was  the  neighborhood;  and 
his  domiciling  himself  in  the  city  was  somewhat  re- 
tarded by  having  to  wait  for  the  completion  of  two  con- 
tiguous houses  on  the  south  side  of  Twentieth  Street, 
near  the  Seventh  Avenue,  which  he  had  bespoken, 
while  they  were  in  building;  the  one  for  his  own 
dwelling,  the  other,  which  was  divided  at  his  desire, 
into  more  spacious  apartments,  for  the  Sunday  schools 
and  other  parish  work. 

His  own  home  was  a  very  plain  abode,  the  rooms 
small  and  furnished  with  the  utmost  simplicity;  but 
an  interest  attaches  to  it,  in  that  within  its  homely 
walls  was  cradled  the  first  thought  of  more  than  one 
of  the  noble  works  which  crowned  his  life.  That  unpre- 
tending house  had  also  another  consecration,  since  Dr. 
Muhlenberg  received  into  it,  and  nourished  there  until 
his  death,  a  former  pupil,  who  was  seized  with  con- 
sumption, while  a  student  in  the  Theological  Semi- 
nary. He  occupied  this  dwelling  until  the  year  1850. 
when  he  went  to  live  with  his  mother,  and  sister,  in  the 
newly  erected  parsonage,  which  was  connected  with 
the  church  by  the  Sunday-school  house,  on  Twentieth 
Street. 

From  the  remoteness  of  the  situation  chosen  for  the 
church,  and  the  sparseness  of  the  surrounding  popula- 


196  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

tion,  Dr.  Muhlenberg  had  thought  it  necessary,  at  the 
laying  of  the  corner-stone,  to  make  some  explanation  of 
the  grounds  on  which  so  large  an  expenditure  of  money 
was  to  be  made,  where  apparently  a  new  church  was  so 
little  needed.  But  the  rapid  growth  of  the  city,  soon 
justified  the  locality.  The  contrast  is,  indeed,  striking 
between  what  we  see  to-day,  and  what  then  was.  In- 
stead of  the  "roaring  avenue,"  with  its  surface  and  ele- 
vated railways,  lined  on  both  sides  with  large  stores, 
and  high  houses,  and  crossed  by  streets  of  handsome 
residences,  there  were  vacant  grass-grown  lots  almost 
from  river  to  river,  with  only  here  and  there  a  respect- 
able dwelling,  unless  it  were  in  the  neighborhood  of 
St.  Peter's  Church.  To  the  north  of  the  site  of  the  Holy 
Communion,  stood  an  old  country  mansion  buried  in 
trees,  where  the  bishop  and  clergy  robed  themselves  for 
the  ceremony  of  the  corner-stone.  To  the  rear  of  that 
was  a  squatter's  hut,  and  extending  thence  along  the 
unpaved  streets,  large  nursery  grounds.  In  the  cross- 
streets  below  Twentieth,  there  were  groups  or  alleys  of 
low  wooden  tenement  houses,  "  Home's  buildings,"  and 
the  like,  and  from  the  Protestant  part  of  their  popula- 
tion, the  new  free  church  gathered  its  first  poor  mem- 
bers, while  their  fellow-worshippers,  the  Min turns,  the 
Johnsons,  the  Hoffmans,  etc.,  came  from  much  lower 
down  in  the  city,  some  from  as  far  as  St.  John's 
Square. 

These  distances,  however,  did  not  interfere  with  the 
immediate  formation  of  a  large  congregation,  and  from 
its  commencement  the  church  was  filled  with  a  body 


A    CONGREGATION   OF  RICH  AND    POOR.         197 

of  worshippers  composed  of  the  rich  and  the  poor  more 
promiscuously  mingled  than  had  hitherto  been  com- 
mon in  our  communion.  As  a  free  church,  this  of  the 
Holy  Communion  began  under  auspices  so  extraordi- 
nary as  hardly  to  make  it  an  earnest  of  the  success  of 
others.  Several  wealthy  and  devout  families  united 
with  Mrs.  Eogers  in  supporting  the  church  at  its 
outset,  and  in  sustaining  Dr.  Muhlenberg  in  what 
were  supposed  to  be  his  peculiar  ministrations.  These, 
such  as  the  Daily  Service;  the  division  of  the  Offices 
on  Sunday  morning;  the  Weekly  Communion,  and 
Weekly  Offertory  for  the  support  of  the  church  in  the 
morning,  for  the  relief  of  the  poor  in  the  afternoon; 
the  congregational  singing ;  chanting  the  Psalter ; 
preaching  in  the  surplice;  the  matins  of  Christmas 
and  Easter ;  the  especial  solemnities  of  the  Holy  Week ; 
the  celebration  of  the  Epiphany  with  its  large  offer- 
ings for  missions,  given  chiefly  in  gold,  and  amount- 
ing sometimes  to  several  thousand  dollars;  the  Employ- 
ment Society,  for  the  assistance  of  the  poor  women  of 
the  congregation;  the  Thanksgiving  provision  for  such 
in  their  homes;  the  parish  children's  Christmas-tree; 
the  Fresh  Air  Fund,  and  the  work  of  the  Sisterhood 
in  their  Church  Dispensary,  Church  Infirmary  and 
Church  Schools, — all  these  things,  many  of  them  now 
grown  into  common  use,  were  original  with  Dr.  Muhl- 
enberg, and  naturally  gave  to  the  Church  of  the  Holy 
Communion  a  character  and  attractiveness  of  its  own. 
The  attraction  was  legitimate;  for  besides  the  im- 
pressiveness  of  its  external  order,  through  Dr.  Muhl- 


198  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

enberg's  deep  and  delicate  liturgical  feeling,  and  the 
beautiful  harmony  and  heartiness  of  the  worship  thence 
resulting,  there  was  a  fresh,  simple  preaching  of  the 
Gospel,  which,  with  his  unaffected  sincerity  of  voice 
and  manner  told  powerfully  upon  the  hearts  of  the 
hearers.  Many,  who  came  just  for  once  to  see  the  new1 
church,  and  hear  the  new  preacher,  could  never  after- 
wards be  content  to  worship  elsewhere.  He  aimed 
at  no  distinction  in  the  pulpit,  cultivated  no  grace  of 
rhetoric,  and  in  his  lowliness  of  mind,  greatly  under 
rated  himself  as  a  preacher ;  yet  he  scrupled  not  to  say, 
"  I  always  read  the  Bible  in  church  as  well  as  I  could." 
"I  never  preached  a  sermon  except  with  a  view  to 
save  souls."  "  He  preached  to  achieve  results,  and  not 
to  win  applause.  To  him  the  pulpit  was  not  the  throne 
of  the  orator,  but  the  chair  of  the  preacher  of  the  Gos- 
pel of  Jesus  Christ.  In  fact  he  possessed  the  prophetic 
spirit,  for  he  was  a  fearless  preacher  of  the  word  and 
will  of  God."* 

Speaking  himself  of  the  services  of  the  Church  of 
the  Holy  Communion  he  said — "I  was  never  so  taken 
up  with  the  chancel  as  to  forget  my  great  duty  was  in 
the  pulpit;  and  those  who  discerned  Puseyism  in  my 
ministrations,  always  quoted  the  proofs  of  it,  in  what 
they  thought  they  saw,  never  in  what  they  heard. 
I  have  never  been  charged  with  unsound  doctrine, 
certainly  not  by  Low  Churchmen.  In  all  the  ministra- 
tions of  the  church,  the  objective  and  subjective  in  re- 

*  Rev.  Dr.  Edwin  Harwood. 


FESTIVAL    AND    FEAST.  199 

ligion  were  elements  in  due  proportion;  in  other  words 
it  was  Evangelical  Catholicism." 

There  was  something  Pentecostal  in  the  first  years 
of  that  beautiful  church,  at  least  to  its  devout  com- 
municants, and  there  were  very  many  such.  Undoubt- 
edly, with  the  Episcopal  world  outside  of  the  parish, 
Dr.  Muhlenberg  and  his  doings  were  the  subject  of 
much  remark  and  criticism;  for  he  was  not  generally 
well  known,  and  those  were  excited  and  unhappy  days 
as  to  church  questions.  But  the  best  part  of  the  con- 
gregation did  not  come  much  in  contact  with  these 
elements,  or  if  they  did,  gave  no  heed  to  them.  Some 
yet  remain  who  will  recall,  with  rekindling  emotion, 
the  effect  of  those  ministrations  upon  their  inmost 
souls.  How  the  clear,  luminous  words  of  the  prophet 
pastor  set  forth  to  them,  almost  as  a  new  gospel, 
a  Christianity  of  active  personal  love,  and  brought 
to  bear  upon  their  every-day  lives,  the  plain  uncom- 
promising maxims  of  this  Christianity,  with  a  simple 
and  forcible  directness  hitherto  entirely  unknown  to 
them. 

They  will  recall,  too,  the  wonderful  reality  of  the 
worship  in  that  little  sanctuary,  the  edifying  and  ani- 
mating observance  of  the  church's  holy  seasons — the 
sweet  hallowed  mirth  of  Christmas ;  the  solemn  charm 
of  Passion-tide — so  solemn  and  impressive,  not  by  any 
scenic  effect,  but  by  the  especial  devotions  and  teach- 
ings of  the  week,  that  on  Good-Friday  evening  there 
was  always  a  sense  of  relief,  as  when  after  long  watch- 
ing the  death- bed  of  a  beloved  sufferer  we  give  thanks 


200  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

that  the  worst  is  over.  And  then  the  rapturous  joy  of 
Easter,  with  its  perfectly  accordant  music,  and  sweet 
resurrection  types  of  bud  and  blossom.  Not  flowers  of 
a  hired  gardener's  arranging,  or  even  producing,  as  to 
the  choicest  of  them,  but  of  private  cultivation  and 
raised  for  the  purpose ;  and  these  again  always  proper- 
ly disposed  in  the  font  and  in  front  of  the  open  Bible  by 
the  hand  of  reverent  devotion.  He  used  to  say  that 
those  who  had  this  pious  duty  in  charge  were  the 
women  bringing  the  spices  to  the  sepulchre  at  Easter 
dawn.  "When,  in  later  years,  he  saw  the  excess  to 
which  "Easter  Flowers"  were  carried,  the  lavish  ex- 
penditure and  decorative  character  attaching  to  them, 
he  regretted  his  introduction  of  these,  in  themselves 
beautiful  symbols. 

But,  above  all,  in  the  Church  of  the  Holy  Commun- 
ion, was  the  blessedness  of  a  new  intercourse  with  the 
poor  and  needy.  The  same,  surely,  in  kind,  if  not  in 
degree,  as  that  which  followed  the  first  effusion  of  the 
Holy  Spirit  on  the  Day  of  Pentecost,  when  there  was 
not  "any  that  lacked"  for  want  of  what  a  wealthier 
fellow-communicant  could  supply.  This  was  instinctive 
with  the  pastor,  and  under  his  inspirations  became  an 
elemental  part  of  the  life  of  the  parish.  It  was  custom- 
ary in  those  days,  if  any  of  these  humbler  ones  were  in 
sickness  or  distress,  for  the  pastor,  and  one  or  two  of 
the  more  able  of  his  flock,  to  visit  such  in  their  homes, 
after  the  church  services,  "  nourishing  and  cherishing 
them,"  as  members  with  themselves  of  the  one  Body  of 
Christ.  "  They  that  believed  "  were  truly  "  of  one  heart 


A    HOUSE-WARMING.  201 

and  one  soul,"  and  thus  soothed,  helped,  and  taught, 
the  first  poor  communicants  of  that  church  became 
more  respectable  and  self-respecting  than  most  of  their 
class. 

Sometimes,  in  that  parish,  there  would  be  a  literal 
enacting  of  some  Scripture  precept  not  common  to  our 
day.  This  one,  for  instance:  "When  thou  makest  a 
dinner,  or  a  supper,  call  not  thy  friends,  nor  thy  breth- 
ren, neither  thy  kinsmen,  nor  thy  rich  acquaintance, 
less  they  bid  thee  again,  and  a  recompense  be  made 
thee.  But  when  thou  makest  a  feast  call  the  poor,"* 
etc.  One  of  the  wealthier  members  of  the  parish,  hav- 
ing built  himself  a  large  new  house,  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  the  church,  invited  to  it,  at  its  first  using,  all 
his  poorer  fellow-communicants,  some  thirty  in  number ; 
he  and  his  wife  entertaining  them  at  a  bountiful  sup- 
per, and  giving  them  each,  as  the  party  broke  up, 
generous  packages  of  good  things  to  carry  to  their 
homes.  The  unwonted  circumstances  induced  at  first 
a  little  shyness,  but  it  soon  wore  off  when  the  Minis- 
ter, and  other  well-known  friends  of  the  church,  min- 
gled among  them  in  friendly  talk.  They  were  regaled 
in  the  dining-room  and  library,  thrown  together  for 
the  purpose,  but  were  not  shown  over  the  beautiful 
mansion  as  is  common  in  house-warmings ;  that  would 
have  been  to  suggest,  perhaps,  discouraging  compari- 
sons. They  were  cheered  and  enlivened  by  atten- 
tions and  amusements  suited  to  their  taste,  and  left, 

*  St.  Luke  xiv.  12,  13. 


202  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

after  a  brief  service  of  prayer  and  praise,  with  their 
heartiest  blessings  on  the  new  home. 

As  for  the  pastor's  personal  ministrations  to  these 
poorer  members,  it  would  take  a  volume  to  set  them 
forth.  And  such  merry,  cheery  talks  as  he  used  to 
have  with  them, — taking  the  more  pains,  haply,  to  be 
agreeable  to  them,  in  that  he  felt  so  deeply  their  large 
privation  of  the  innocent  enjoyments  of  life.  No  won- 
der, that  a  worthy  woman,  after  an  interview  with 
him,  should  say,  "Why,  Dr.  Muhlenberg  talked  with 
me  just  as  if  I  was  a  lady ! " 

One  winter,  a  poor  woman,  who  lived  up  an  alley- 
way near  his  house,  came  to  evening  prayer  to  be 
"churched."  It  was  cold  weather,  and  as  the  pastor 
left,  after  the  service,  he  threw  around  him  a  large 
cloak  that  a  friend  had  given  him  for  such  use.  The 
woman,  with  her  new-born  babe,  too  scantily  clad  for 
the  season,  was  going  in  the  same  direction.  He  did 
not  know  that  a  parishioner,  walking  behind  them,  saw 
him  draw  the  poor  mother  and  her  infant  within  his 
own  cloak,  which  he  made  thus  enfold  the  three, 
walking  with  them  to  their  home.  "Doubtless  there 
is  more  love  than  any  thing  else  in  the  world,  but 
the  best  love,  and  the  individual  in  whom  it  is  su- 
preme, is  the  rarest  of  all  things." 

Glancing  along  the  course  of  Dr.  Muhlenberg's  va- 
rious undertakings  for  the  church,  the  spontaneity 
and  naturalness  of  their  origin,  and  the  rapidity  with 
which,  in  their  first  idea,  they  overlapped  each  other, 
become  strikingly  apparent.  He  was  never  occupied 


A    FIRST   STEP.  203 

with  the  question  what  to  do  next,  though  perhaps 
amid  the  mountains  of  wretchedness  looming  up  to  his 
pitiful  vision  in  the  poorer  quarters  of  the  great  city  in 
which  he  had  come  to  dwell,  often  he  may  have  sighed 
that  he  could  do  so  little. 

The  circumstances  of  the  moment  sometimes  sufficed 
to  inspire  the  noblest  design,  and  it  was  thus  that  in 
the  very  first  months  of  the  Church  of  the  Holy  Com- 
munion, St.  Luke's  Hospital  came .  into  his  thoughts, 
though  not  until  much  later  into  active  operation.  In 
his  pastoral  visitations  among  the  lowly  ones  of  his 
flock,  he  became  painfully  impressed  with  the  distress- 
ing condition  of  such  in  the  places  they  called  their 
homes,  when  sickness  overtook  them.  "That  cold, 
damp  basement,"  he  said  with  indignation,  "about  as 
tenantable  as  a  coal-vault  for  a  sufferer  from  rheuma- 
tism." "That  close  apartment,  heated  to  stifling  in  pre- 
paring the  evening  meal  on  the  shattered  stove,  where 
the  poor  consumptive  mother  lies  coughing  away  her 
life  amid  the  smoke  and  smell  of  the  coarse  cook- 
ing, and  the  noise  of  the  family. — Do  you  call  those 
homes  ? "  It  was  probably  a  sufferer  of  this  last  class, 
poor  F.  S..  whom  he  constantly  visited  for  many  weeks, 
that  stirred  his  earliest  impulse  towards  a  church  hos- 
pital ;  for  he  had  not  yet  said  the  last  prayer  over  her 
remains,  when,  on  St.  Luke's  Day  (Oct.  18th)  1846,  he 
proposed  to  the  congregation  that  half  of  the  offer- 
ings of  the  day  should  be  laid  aside  as  the  begin- 
ning of  a  fund  towards  the  founding  of  an  institu- 
tion for  the  relief  of  the  sick  poor,  under  the  auspices 


204  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

of  religion,  and  that  011  each  return  of  the  festival 
of  St.  Luke  the  Evangelist  and  Physician,  the  object 
should  be  kept  in  view,  and  the  proceeds  of  the  of- 
fertory so  appropriated. 

He  announced  this  arrangement,  without  any  pre-in- 
timation  to  the  congregation,  immediately  after  reading 
the  Gospel  for  the  day.  Something  over  thirty  dollars 
was  the  result;  a  sum  so  small  that  a  brother  clergy- 
man, assisting  him  that  afternoon,  asked  with  some- 
thing of  scorn, 

"  Pray,  when  do  you  expect  to  build  your  hospital  ?  " 

"  Never,  if  I  do  not  make  a  beginning,"  Dr.  Muhlen- 
berg  replied.  He  could  wait.  He  knew  what  he  was 
doing. 

But  to  appreciate  how  good  and  how  necessary  was 
the  work  that  day  begun,  we  must  understand  the 
utter  dearth  of  proper  hospital  provision  that  then 
existed  in  the  city  of  New  York,  not  only  ibr  the 
incurably  ill,  but  for  worthy,  needy  sufferers,  what- 
ever their  malady.  Apart  from  the  provision  for  em- 
igrants on  Ward's  Island,  there  were  but  two  hos- 
pitals in  the  metropolis;  first  and  best  was  the  "New 
York,"  or  "Broadway  Hospital"  as  it  was  sometimes 
called,  which  had  three  hundred  and  fifty  beds,  mainly 
appropriated  to  seamen,  whose  expenses  were  paid  by 
the  government,  and  to  sufferers  from  casualties,  with 
a  sprinkling  of  patients  able  to  pay  for  themselves. 
None  were  received  whose  cases  did  not  appear  to 
the  physicians  and  surgeons  to  admit  of  some  prob- 
ability of  cure  or  of  substantial  relief.  The  other  hos- 


•  BEGINNING   A    WORK   OF   CHARITY.  205 

pital,  "  Bellevue,"  was  devoted  entirely  to  paupers.  It 
had  in  use  five  hundred  and  fifty  beds,  and  was  in 
reality  the  sick  ward  of  the  Almshouse,  and  was  al- 
ways crowded,  the  provision  being  quite  too  small  for 
the  accommodation  of  the  class  who  were  its  sole  bene- 
ficiaries, and  who,  it  may  be  readily  conceived,  made 
the  place  more  to  be  dreaded  by  the  decent  Christian 
poor,  than  the  worst  privations  and  disqualifications  of 
their  own  garrets  and  basements. 

These  facts,  and  the  suffering  with  which  he  was 
brought  face  to  face  among  his  own  sick  poor,  might 
well  prompt  a  man  of  Dr.  Muhlenberg's  noble  sym- 
pathy and  prayerful  faith  to  make  a  venture  for  a 
church  hospital.  And  his  quiet,  simple  method  of  ini- 
tiating this  great  undertaking,  as  well  as  the  spirit 
with  which  he  carried  along  his  project,  illustrates  the 
habitual  tenor  of  his  mind  in  all  his  creations.  In  reply 
to  an  inquiry,  "How  to  begin  a  work  of  charity,"  he 
once  gave  the  following  characteristic  counsel: 

"  Don't  begin  by  announcing  your  object,  and  calling 
a  meeting  of  all  who  are  friendly  to  it.  Some  will 
come  who  think  they  know  all  about  it  as  well  as  your- 
self. They  will  give  advice,  propose  plans,  suggest 
methods  of  proceeding,  etc.,  which  may  seem  very 
encouraging,  but  will  end  in  taking  the  matter  out 
of  your  own  hands,  or  in  making  it  altogether  another 
thing  from  what  you  intended;  or,  through  a  division 
of  counsels,  it  will  come  to  nought.  No;  begin  in  a 
quiet,  natural  way.  Let  the  thing  grow  by  its  own  life 
under  the  fostering  care  of  the  few  who  understand  and 


206  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

entirely  sympathize  with  you.  It  may  be  small  and 
weak,  but  if  it  is  a  germ  of  genuine  charity,  it  will 
take  root  and  vegetate.  Then  ask  all  who  will,  to 
supply  the  nutriment  for  its  further  growth;  but  not 
to  trim  and  fashion  it  after  their  own  notions.  If  they 
help  you,  thank  God  and  take  courage.  If  not,  have 
patience — it  will  not  die  if  it  be  a  plant  which  your 
Heavenly  Father  has  planted.  If  it  be  not,  the  sooner 
it  dies  the  better." 

At  the  beginning  of  the  Church  of  the  Holy  Com- 
munion, not  only  was  there  no  such  thing  known 
amongst  us  as  a  church  hospital,  but  there  was  not, 
at  least  in  the  city  of  New  York,  a  church  charity  of 
any  kind,  unless  we  allow  the  Sunday  school  and  its 
concomitants  to  be  such ;  not  a  single  orphanage,  home 
for  the  aged,  house  of  mercy  for  the  fallen,  or  shelter 
of  whatever  sort;  and  it  is  not  too  much  to  claim 
that  the  new  life  breathed  not  only  into  the  church, 
but  into  the  community  at  large,  with  the  conception 
of  St.  Luke's  Hospital,  sent  its  pulsations  far  and 
wide,  throughout  our  borders,  giving  birth  at  no  long 
intervals,  to  a  multitude  of  affiliated  charities;  while 
of  his  own  communion  it  has  been  truly  said  that, 
"Every  movement  of  spiritual  life  within  it,  for  the 
past  fifty  years,  may  be  traced  back  in  some  way,  to 
Dr.  Muhlenberg  as  its  point  of  departure."  * 

He  was  most  felicitously  endowed  for  that  which  it 
was  given  him  to  do ;  possessing  a  very  unusual  com- 

*  Eev.  Dr.  F.  E.  Lawrence. 


NOT  AT   CONVENTION.  207 

binatioii  of  the  ideal  and  the  practical.  With  all  his 
creative  gifts,  he  could  throw  his  fine  intelligence, 
when  necessary,  into  common  details,  with  the  patient 
attention  of  a  dutiful  scholar;  and  together  with  the 
eagerness  of  his  sanguine  temperament  there  was  an 
underlying  calmness  and  quiet  waiting,  which  gave 
him  a  power  for  steady  work  such  as  few  have  trained 
themselves  to.  There  were  in  him,  also,  other  mental 
and  moral  contrasts.  He  was  modest,  and  diffident  to 
a  degree,  yet  bold  to  go  where  others  would  not  dare. 
He  was  indulgent,  yet  strict.  He  had  the  simplicity  of 
a  child,  with  the  wisdom  of  the  sage. 

A  leaf  from  his  journal  affords  an  interesting  glimpse 
of  the  tone  of  his  mind  and  of  church  matters  of  this 
date: 

"Oct.  19th,  1847.  The  General  Convention  is  in 
session,  and  probably  engaged  in  a  most  exciting 
debate  on  Bishop  Onderdonk's  case,  and  yet  I  am 
sitting  at  home,  having  little  or  no  inclination  to  be 
present.  Am  I  tired  of  conventions,  as  of  other  things 
in  the  world?  Is  it  that  they  are  so  much  like  the 
world  ?  I  fear  it  is  not  because  I  am  so  much  more 
spiritually-minded ;  and  yet,  a  man  need  be  but  little  of 
a  Christian  to  feel  how  far  these  councils  of  the  church 

are  from  the  true  spirit  of  the  church Dr. 

Bowman  is  staying  with  me.  Pleasant  to  have  an  old 
friend  with  whom  one  can  converse  freely.  Every  one 
is  so  party-bound  that  such  a  neutral  as  I  profess  to 
be,  is  in  the  confidence  of  none.  ....  Spent  an 
hour  in  looking  at  the  procession  for  the  laying  of  the 


208  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS   MUHLENBERG. 

Washington  Monument,  -which  was  three  hours  in  pass- 
ing. Societies  with  banners,  and  fire-companies,  the 
various  forms  of  temperance  societies,  Kechabites,  Odd 
Fellows,  etc., — a  phenomenon  peculiar  to  the  day. 
They  carry  the  Bible — this  might  afford  ground  for 
some  able  and  popular  man  to  turn  them  into  bodies 
with  some  religious  faith,  which  would  supply  them 
with  ornaments  and  ceremonies  of  some  meaning.  .  ." 

It  is  wonderful  to  retrace  the  first  three  years  of  the 
Church  of  the  Holy  Communion,  and  note  the  vari- 
ous activities  which,  in  that  short  period,  were  set  in 
motion.  Besides  the  large  Sunday  school,  and  boys' 
Choir-classes,  there  were  a  day  school  for  boys,  another 
for  girls,  an  Employment  Society  for  furnishing  needle- 
work to  the  indigent  women  of  the  parish,  the  begin- 
ning of  the  Sisters'  systematic  care  of  the  poor  and  of 
their  Dispensary,  the  Thanksgiving  feasts,  the  church 
Christmas-trees,  and  the  Fresh  Air  Fund. 

The  term  Fresh  Air,  as  applied  to  country  refreshment 
for  the  poor  in  summer,  and  now  so  common  amongst 
us,  that  many  and  various  agencies  for  the  purpose, 
have  adopted  the  phrase,  was  original  with  Dr.  Muhlen- 
berg,  both  as  to  name  and  fact.  And  the  "  Fresh  Air  " 
charity  came  about  just  as  simply  and  naturally  as 
many  another  of  his  good  works.  His  parish  notes 
furnish,  incidentally,  a  record  of  this  beginning,  and 
afford  a  pleasing  picture  of  the  first  recipients  of  the 
benefit,  as  well  as  of  Dr.  Muhlenberg  in  relation  to 
them.  The  entire  minute  is  of  interest.  It  was  the 
summer  of  the  cholera,  1849. 


FRESH  AIR.  209 

"Tuesday,  Aug.  7th.     Went,  accompanied  by ,  on 

a  pastoral  visitation.  First  to  the  Cholera  Hospital  in 
Thirteenth  St. — Gave  them  clothing  for  the  patients. — 
Spoke  to  the  women  I  saw  there  last  evening.  They 
have  few  and  poor  nurses,  the  corporation  not  allowing 
money  enough  to  hire  good  ones,  who  want  two  dollars 
a  day,  while  they  can  aiford,  they  say,  but  fifty  cents — 
Outrageous  while  there  is  money  enough  for  frolics  and 
processions!  Visited  several  poor  families — gave  Mrs. 

K money  to  take  an  excursion  with  her  children; 

for  ten  years  she  said  she  had  not  done  such  a  thing — 

Called  at  Mrs.  H 's.     'Who  are  all  these  children?' 

'That's  Ellen's  school.'  'I  am  glad  to  see  Ellen  so  well 
employed.  I  suppose  the  school  is  some  help  to  you.' 
'Oh  no;  it's  a  charity  school.'  'Indeed!'  'Yes;  these 
poor  children  are  left  by  their  parents  to  run  about  in 
the  heat, — you  know  it's  vacation  time ;  so  to  keep  them 
from  being  sick,  Ellen  has  taken  them  here  every  day, 
and  teaches  them  their  tables,  etc.'  Verily,  one  can 
hardly  get  the  rich  to  give  their  money  to  a  charity 
school,  but  here  is  a  poor  woman  keeping  one  in  her 
own  house,  her  daughter,  a  sweet  little  girl,  teaching. 
I  proposed  that  they  should  take  a  day  of  recreation  in 
the  country.  '  We  have  no  money  for  that,'  the  mother 
replied.  'You  shall  have  the  money.'  'Oh!  it  would 
seem  a  sin  to  spend  it  in  that  way;  besides,  I  should 
lose  a  day's  work.'  '  How  much  can  you  earn  in  a  day 
by  your  sewing?'  'Two  shillings.'  'Well,  that  shall 
be  made  up  to  you.'  I  told  her  it  would  do  them  all 
good  to  go  for  a  little  fresh  air  over  to  Hoboken  in 
14 


210  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

pleasant  weather,  and  as  I  was  saying  how  glad  I  and 
some  of  their  friends  in  the  church  would  be  to  know 
they  had  at  least  one  day  of  pleasure,  little  Ellen's  eyes 
filled  with  tears,  and  she  flew  up  to  me  and  kissed  me 
most  affectionately." 

A  year  or  two  later  the  Fresh  Air  provision  became 
an  established  summer  charity  of  the  Church  of  the 
Holy  Communion,  and  was  often  extended  by  the  tender 
and  loving  pastor  to  other  than  its  own  poor  people. 

There  is  extant  a  debit  and  credit  account  of  the 
"Fresh  Air  Fund,"  a  year  or  two  later,  showing  its 
benefits  at  an  expenditure  of  about  seventy  dollars,  dis- 
tributed thus :  "  Two  poor  shirt  sewers  and  consumptive 
brother,  three  weeks  board  at  Catskill ;  poor  student  in 
ill  health,  the  same  for  over  a  month ;  an  unhappy  wife 
and  two  young  children,  and  a  widow  and  two  young 
children,  nearly  two  weeks ;  an  old  man  of  eighty-five,  his 
grand-children  and  great-grand-children,  frequent  trips 
to  Staten  Island ;  the  same,  from  time  to  time,  to  a  poor 
old  weaver,  a  sick  and  lonely  widow,  a  lame  boy,  and 
some  mothers  with  their  sick  infants."  All  these  be- 
ing parishioners,  and  most  of  the  adults  communicants 
of  the  church,  this  accidentally-preserved  paper  serves 
to  show  something  of  who  and  what  they  were,  who 
found  bodily  as  well  as  spiritual  healing  in  that  little 
Bethesda. 

The  first  church  Christmas-tree  for  poor  children 
in  the  city  of  New  York  was  lighted  in  the  parish 
of  the  Holy  Communion  in  1847,  under  Dr.  Muhlen- 
berg's  direction;  but  in  the  school-room  of  the  high 


CHRISTMAS-TREES   FOR    THE    POOR.  211 

school  for  young  ladies,  conducted  by  the  Sisters; 
the  school -house  proper,  where  in  after  years  it  was 
customary  to  have  it,  being  not  then  completed.  The 
wealthier  pupils  provided  the  gifts  for  their  less-favored 
little  brothers  and  sisters,  viz.,  all  the  poorest  children 
of  the  church,  and,  in  unloading  the  heavy  boughs  and 
distributing  the  fruit  to  the  expectant,  eager  hands, 
feasted  themselves  upon  the  blessedness  of  giving  as 
better  than  receiving.  Sweet  carols  were  sung  and 
kindly  greetings  exchanged.  All  was  hallowed  glad- 
ness, but  the  gayest  there,  perhaps,  was  the  pastor  him- 
self. Clapping  his  hands  merrily,  and  rubbing  them 
through  and  through  his  abundant  silvery  hair,  till  it 
stood  out  like  the  nimbus  in  some  old  saint's  picture,  he 
said  triumphantly  to  an  English  friend  standing  near: 

"Ah,  Mrs.  A ,  John  Bull  has  nothing  to  do  with  this 

— this  is  all  'VaterlandM  "  Afterwards  he  wrote:  "A 
Christmas-tree  lighted  up,  and  hung  with  good  things, 
books,  etc.,  with  a  parcel  of  needy  children,  merry 
around  it,  is  a  delightful  picture  of  Christianity  'giv- 
ing gifts  to  men' — gifts  temporal  as  well  as  spiritual, 
and  especially  blessing  the  poor." 

He  was  the  first  also  to  introduce  in  our  churches, 
open  seats  with  low  kneeling  benches  for  the  congrega- 
tion, instead  of  private  cushioned  pews  with  the  high 
soft  hassock  for  support  in  leaning  forward,  not  kneel- 
ing, at  the  prayers.  It  was  a  new  lesson  to  see  such 
men  as  Kobert  B.  Minturn  sitting  on  those  benches,  one 
in  this  with  the  humblest  of  his  fellow-worshippers. 

Dr.  Muhlenberg  never  had  any  other  arrangement 


212  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS   MUHLENBERG. 

for  seating  the  people  in  the  churches  and  chapels  he 
originated.  He  used  to  say  that  if  sincere  Christians 
could  only  look  through  the  mists  of  custom  at  things 
as  they  are,  they  would  shrink  back,  as  at  a  fearful 
desecration,  from  the  proprietorship  of  luxurious  little 
apartments,  secured  by  money,  for  their  exclusive  use 
in  the  sanctuary  of  the  Lord  of  Hosts.  He  expressed 
himself  more  severely  still  on  the  sacrilegiousness  of 
pew  auctions.  Thus,  in  one  of  those  epigrammatic 
rhymings  habitual  with  him: 

"LINES  ON  A  PEW  AUCTION. 

"If  the  Saviour  drove  out  of  the  temple  of  old 
Poor  ignorant  Jews,  who  bought  there  and  sold, 
What  would  He  to  Christians,  so  given  to  pelf, 
As  traffic  to  make  of  the  temple  itself! 
Woe,  woe  to  the  church,  ruled  by  Mammon-made  lords, 
When  He  cometh  again  with  the  scourge  of  His  cords ! " 

It  would  be  curious  to  trace  the  history  of  pews. 
Perhaps  the  necessary  research  would  not  reveal  a 
beginning  much  more  pious  or  dignified,  whatever  the 
kind  of  pew,  than  that  attributed  to  the  high  wain- 
scoted compartments  not  yet  extinct  in  old-fashioned 
neighborhoods,  the  origin  of  which  is  thus  given  by 
Dr.  Muhlenberg  in  the  Evangelical  Catholic  (1852), — 

"Bishop  Burnet  complained  that  the  ladies  of  the 
Princess  Anne's  establishment  did  not  look  at  him 
while  preaching  his  'thundering  long  sermons,'  as 
Queen  Mary  called  them,  but  were  looking  at  other 
objects.  He,  therefore,  after  much  remonstrance  on 


ORIGIN   OF  PEWS.  213 

their  impropriety,  prevailed  on  Queen  Anne  to  order 
all  the  pews  in  St.  James's  Chapel  to  be  raised  so  high 
that  the  fair  delinquents  could  see  nothing  but  himself 
when  he  was  in  the  pulpit!  The  princess  laughed  at 
the  complaint;  but  she  complied  when  Burnet  told  her 
that  the  interests  of  the  church  were  in  danger.  The 
whim  of  Bishop  Burnet  was  imitated  in  many  churches 
w^hich  had  not  been  pewed  before,  and  such  pews  are 
at  this  hour  to  be  seen  in  remote  country  parishes." 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

1849-1851. 

Impetus  given  to  Hospital  Project. — A  Day  in  the  Annals  of  the  Church.— 
Public  Plea  for  a  Church  Hospital. — St.  Luke's  Incorporated. — A 
Hundred  Thousand  Dollars  Asked. — Large  Subscriptions. — Robert  B. 
Minturn  and  the  Anonymous  Five  Thousand.— First  Idea  as  to  Names 
of  Donors. — Review  of  Cholera  Summer. — Death  of  Choir  Boy. — 
Labors  during  Epidemic. — Visiting  Cholera  Hospital. — Another  Chor- 
ister taken. — Music  of  the  Church  of  the  Holy  Communion. — Boy 
Choirs.— Mode  of  Supporting  a  Free  Church.— The  Weekly  Eucharist 
and  Daily  Service. — A  Missionary  Meeting. — Rubrics  not  Choke-Strings 
of  the  Heart. — The  Friday  Evening  Lecture. — The  Sacramental  Sys- 
tem.— Bishop  Ives's  Submission  to  Rome. — Would  Like  to  Wear  Coarser 
Clothes.— Devoted  Filial  Love.— His  Mother's  Last  Illness  and  Death. 
— The  Funeral. — Tender  Sentiment. 

THE  cholera  visitation  of  1849  gave  an  impetus  both 
to  the  Hospital  project  and  to  the  Sisterhood.  In 
Dr.  Muhleiiberg's  mind,  these  two  organizations  were 
never  dissociated,  whatever  the  apprehensions  of  others. 
Without  an  assured  prospect  of  such  voluntary  nurses, 
he  never  would  have  attempted  the  formation  of  a 
church  hospital,  often  uttering  as  an  axiom,  "No  Sis- 
ters, no  St.  Luke's."  So  when,  in  the  imminence  of  the 
pestilence,  a  Sister,  and  a  companion  like-minded,  made 
their  initiatory  experience  in  one  of  the  hospitals  im- 
provised by  the  city  for  that  exigency,  he  saw  in  it  a 
promise  for  the  future  which  inspired  him  with  new 
encouragement  to  prosecute  his  Hospital  idea. 


A    DAY    TO   BE    REMEMBERED.  215 

There  had  been  an  addition  to  the  original  nest-egg 
on  each  successive  festival  of  St.  Luke's  since  1846, 
and  a  few  good  women  had  formed  themselves  into  a 
little  hospital  circle,  for  the  contribution,  through  some 
needle- work,  of  their  mite,  "  in  token  of  their  faith  that 
what  required  thousands  would  one  day  come  to  pass  " ; 
but  Dr.  Muhlenberg  made  no  particular  exertion  for 
the  advancement  of  his  plan  until  the  autumn  of  this 
year,  1849,  when  St.  Luke's  Day  was  observed  by  his 
congregation  as  an  especial  "  Thanksgiving "  for  deliv- 
erance from  cholera,  two  only  of  its  members  having 
succumbed  to  the  disease.  A  number  of  clergymen 
took  part  in  the  occasion,  and  the  usual  offertory,  was 
converted  into  a  general  thank-offering  to  be  applied  to 
the  Hospital  fund,  and  was  so  considerable  in  amount 
as  to  warrant,  with  other  signs  of  encouragement,  an 
immediate  effort  to  give  practical  shape  to  the  project. 

Before  retiring  that  night,  Dr.  Muhlenberg  made  the 
following  entry  in  his  journal :  "  Oct.  18,  1849.  Blessed 
be  God  for  this  good  and  happy  day.  The  seed  is 
planted,  and  I  trust  by  the  hand  of  Him  who  will  not 
let  it  die.  This  St.  Luke's  Day  may  be  remembered  in 
the  annals  of  the  church !  " — A  prophetic  hope  which 
he  lived  to  see  realized  far  beyond  his  anticipations; 
not  only  in  the  singular  success  of  St.  Luke's  Hospital, 
but  in  the  influence  of  that  institution  in  raising  the 
character  of  such  provision  for  the  sick  generally,  and 
in  the  multitude  of  fine,  well-ordered  hospitals  erected 
after  its  pattern. 

In  the   following  winter  his  earnest  and   eloquent 


216  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

"  Plea  for  a  Church  Hospital "  *  was  written,  consisting 
of  two  lectures,  which  were  delivered,  first  before  his 
own  congregation,  and  afterwards  in  St.  Paul's,  St. 
John's,  and,  perhaps,  some  other  of  the  city  churches. 
With  the  actual  St.  Luke's  before  us,  it  is  well  to  carry 
the  mind  back  to  those  days  of  trembling  hope  and 
endeavor,  and  so  see  something  of  the  cost,  whereby, 
on  the  Founder's  part,  the  church  came  into  posses- 
sion of  so  fair  a  jewel.  He  had  no  confidence  aside 
from  persistent  prayer  in  any  thing  that  he  undertook, 
nor  did  he  venture  to  seat  himself  to  write  these 
"  Hospital  Lectures"  without  first  pouring  out  his  heart 
in  supplication  for  divine  approval  and  assistance. 
Some  of  his  recorded  petitions  on  this  subject  are  tran- 
scribed, as  essential  to  the  illustration  of  the  spirit 
and  manner  in  which  this  important  undertaking  was 
begun : 

"  0  Lord,  I  set  about  this  work  praying  for  thy 
guidance  and  direction  from  the  beginning.  .  .  . 
Ought  there  not  to  be  a  House  of  Kefuge  for  our  suf- 
fering brethren?  Hast  thou  not  put  it  into  my  heart 
to  stir  up  the  people  to  the  work  ?  Shall  I  not  fail  in 
my  duty,  if  I  do  not  perform  what  I  trust  thou  hast 
called  me  to  do---unworthy  as  I  am,  of  myself,  to  un- 
dertake the  least  service  for  thee?  0  give  me  thy 
Holy  Spirit.  0  purify  me,  dear  Lord,  in  attempting 
this  labor  of  love.  ...  0  my  blessed  Jesus,  who 
didst  pass  so  much  of  thy  time  in  healing  the  sick, 

*  See  Ev.  Cath.  Papers,  Second  Series. 


A    PUBLIC   HOSPITAL    MEETING.  217 

give  me  of  thy  spirit!  Be  with  me  in  showing  thy 
disciples  the  offices  of  love  they  owe  to  their  poor  and 
suffering  brethren.  I  would  begin  and  carry  on  the 
work  wholly  in  thy  name.  Purge  me  from  all  vanity 
and  self-consequence;  strengthen  me;  give  me  neces- 
sary health.  Guide  me.  I  consecrate  myself  to  thee 
anew  in  this  service  which  I  pray  thee  to  accept  at 
my  hands.  0  Jesus,  make  it  thine  own — thine  own 
work  from  beginning  to  end ! " 

In  May,  1850,  St.  Luke's  Hospital  became  an  Incor- 
poration in  law,  with  Mr.  Robert  B.  Minturn  as  Presi- 
dent of  the  Board  of  Managers.  The  idea  of  a  hospital 
on  a  scale  worthy  of  the  communion  whose  ornament 
and  pride  it  now  is,  was  received  with  such  general 
favor,  that  it  was  resolved  the  scheme  should  be  de- 
veloped beyond  its  first  thought,  which  was  that  of 
simply  a  parochial  institution,  and  the  Board  of  Man- 
agers passed  a  resolution  to  solicit  for  it  the  sum  of 
one  hundred  thousand  dollars.  "  In  pursuance  of  this," 
wrote  Dr.  Muhlenberg  in  his  sketch  of  the  "  History  and 
Progress  of  St.  Luke's,"*  a  meeting  of  churchmen  was 
held  in  the  Stuyvesant  Institute,  at  which,  after  ad- 
dresses by  several  of  the  clergy,  of  different  schools  or 
parties,  but  one  in  the  charity  which  stills  even  the- 
ological polemics,  committees  of  collection  were  ap- 
pointed, and  the  work  was  put  fairly  afloat." 

A  large  number  of  subscriptions  were  speedily  ob- 
tained, and  for  the  most  part  in  sums  far  exceeding 

*  See  Ev.   Cath,  Papers,  Second  Series. 


218  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

any  thing  to  which  people  were  accustomed  in  those 
days,  in  the  way  of  charitable  benefactions.  There 
was  one  subscription  of  twenty  thousand  dollars,  an- 
other of  ten  thousand,  two  of  five  thousand,  and 
so  on. 

It  was  a  gift  of  ten  thousand  dollars,  privately  put 
into  Dr.  Muhlenberg's  hand  by  Mr.  Kobert  B.  Minturn 
as  a  personal  thank-offering  for  an  especial  favor,  which 
gave  the  first  impulse  towards  soliciting  the  hundred 
thousand  dollars.  Later,  there  came,  in  the  ordinary 
Sunday  morning  offertory,  five  bills  of  one  thousand 
each,  labelled,  "For  St.  Luke's  Hospital,"  without  any 
clew  to  the  donor.  Mr.  Minturn  was  one  with  Dr. 
Muhlenberg  in  desiring  that  no  names  should  be  affixed 
to  the  subscriptions  and  donations  for  this  object.  He 
happened  to  be  in  the  vestry  when  the  five  one  thou- 
sand dollar  bills  alluded  to  were  brought  in  among 
the  usual  offerings.  "Doctor,  let  me  hold  those  bills, 
let  me  hold  them  a  moment,"  he  said  in  his  quick 
way.  "  I  want  to  touch  such  money."  But  it  was 
soon  manifest  that  so  high  and  blessed  a  way  of  giv- 
ing could  not  generally  prevail  under  modern  business 
arrangements,  and  the  ordinary  method  of  recording 
and  acknowledging  donations  and  subscriptions  ob- 
tained. It  is  observable,  however,  that  in  the  list  of 
subscribers  to  the  building,  appended  to  the  printed  re- 
port, only  the  names  are  given,  th*e  amounts  severally 
contributed  are  not  published. 

The  cholera  plague  had,  it  is  true,  fallen  very  lightly 
upon  the  congregation  of  the  Holy  Communion,  yet 


DEATH  OF  A    BOY-CHORISTER.  219 

one  of  its  two  victims  was  a  lovely  boy-chorister,  so 
dear  to  the  pastor,  that  his  sudden  removal  was  a  se- 
vere blow.  He  was  playing  on  the  sidewalk  in  the 
moonlight  before  he  went  to  bed;  the  next  day,  after 
morning  prayer,  an  older  brother  ran  over  to  the  church, 
saying  that  Fred  was  very  ill  with  cholera.  Hastening 
to  his  bedside,  Dr.  Muhlenberg  found  the  child  already 
in  the  hopeless  stage  of  the  disease,  but  the  little  fellow 
knew  his  loving  pastor's  voice,  as  he  bent  over  him  in 
prayer,  and  with  a  last  effort  threw  his  arms  around 
his  neck  and  kissed  him.  A  little  after  he  was  gone. 

Dr.  Muhlenberg  was  unusually  affected  by  this  boy's 
death.  The  same  tender  melancholy  that  had  absorbed 
him  in  his  youth  when  the  good  old  Provost  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Philadelphia  died  so  suddenly,  and  also  in 
two  other  succeeding  bereavements,  again  possessed 
him  powerfully,  and  this  to  his  own  surprise. 

"  Strange  that  I  should  be  thus  affected,"  he  writes. 
"I  could  not  have  believed  it  of  my  old  heart.  Per- 
haps, mingled  with  my  feelings,  is  a  little  self-reproach 
that  I  have  not  said  much  to  Fred  of  late.  Oh  that  I 
had  known  he  was  so  soon  to  be  taken  from  us ! " 

Again,  later:  "It  is  now  three  weeks  since  Fred's 
death,  and  yet  my  mind  lingers  on  thoughts  of  the 
boy.  I  can  not  pass  his  flower-bed  in  my  yard  with- 
out a  sweet  melancholy — Is  it  morbid  feeling?  I  can 
recollect  but  three  other  occasions  in  my  life  when  I 
experienced  the  same  kind  of  pensive  grief — though 
grief  it  is  not.  ...  In  those  cases  it  seemed  natural 
enough,  but  it  is  strange  here.  ...  I  see  the  good 


220  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

that  I  trust  will  come  of  it — my  attachment  to  boys 
will  be  more  wholly  spiritual.  I  will  try  to  lead  his 
older  brothers  to  God.  There  shall  be  more  perfect 
order  in  the  choir,"  etc.,  etc. 

"  Fred  was  thirteen  years  of  age — a  bright  and  lovely 
boy,  fond  of  the  House  of  God,  in  whose  services  for 
more  than  a  year  he  had  constantly  assisted" — so  it 
read  in  the  published  notice  of  his  death,  signed  with 
the  pastor's  initials.  The  sentiment  of  the  simple  fu- 
neral indicated  the  same  tender  hand  as  having  ar- 
ranged it  all.  A  note  remains  of  this : 

"  Thursday,  Aug.  30th,  1849.  My  dear  Fred's  funeral. 
Eight  of  his  boy  companions  were  pall-bearers.  The 
whole  service  was  in  the  church ;  in  the  '  committal,'  at 
the  words,  'looking  for  the  general  resurrection,'  the 
boys  cast  flowers  on  the  coffin,  some  of 'which  had  been 
planted  by  Fred  in  his  little  garden  in  my  yard.  The 
body  was  carried  on  the  bier,  by  the  boys,  to  St.  Mark's 
vault  for  interment.  Nearly  all  who  came  to  the 
church  followed  to  the  burial-place,  including  women 
and  girls,  contrary  to  the  custom  here,  but  obeying  the 
impulse  of  their  feelings.  Fred  was  greatly  beloved  in 
the  neighborhood.  It  was  a  large  funeral  for  a  boy 
under  any  circumstances,  but  particularly  so  in  these 
cholera  times." 

That  cholera  summer  was  one  of  incessant  work  for 
Dr.  Muhlenberg,  arid  also  for  his  especial  assistants  and 
the  few  wealthier  of  the  parishioners,  who  remained  in 
town.  Perhaps  that  the  congregation,  so  many  of 
whose  members  were  of  the  poorer  class,  were  vis- 


THE    CUP   OF   COLD    WATER.  221 

ited  no  more  severely  by  the  scourge  is  in  good  meas- 
ure attributable  to  the  care  the  pastor  took  of  them. 
He  went  constantly  in  and  out  among  these  humble 
ones,  cheering  them  and  helping  them  physically  as 
well  as  spiritually.  He  sent  them,  as  we  have  seen,  on 
"Fresh  Air"  excursions,  and  drew  up  a  code  of  very 
plain  instructions,  which  he  caused  to  be  printed  in 
large  type,  to  teach  them  what  best  to  do  to  keep 
well,  and  how  to  act  under  the  premonitory  symptoms 
of  the  epidemic,  as,  also,  where  to  obtain  the  necessary 
remedies,  medicine,  etc.,  not  omitting,  in  conclusion,  to 
exhort  them  against  being  afraid  to  help  each  other  if 
any  were  taken  ill,  and  fortifying  them  kindly  for  this 
duty  by  an  explanation  that  the  cholera  was  not  in 
the  ordinary  sense  of  the  term  "  catching." 

In  addition  to  this,  he  was  unremitting  in  his  visits  to 
the  Cholera  Hospital  in  West  Thirteenth  Street,  which 
by  proximity  he  considered  one  of  his  fields  of  duty, 
and  where  he  did  not  work  without  encouraging  re- 
sults. At  the  beginning  of  his  Cholera  Hospital  min- 
istrations which  some  thought  an  uncalled-for  risk, 
he  wrote:  "Let  me  make  allowance  for  my  brother 
clergymen  who  do  not  see  it  their  duty ;  but  if  it  is  only 
a  kind  word  to  the  sufferers,  it  is  something  for  Christ's 
sake, — it  is  the  'cup  of  cold  water.'  To  pass  by  such 
an  hospital  on  your  way  to  church,  without  ever  enter- 
ing it,  seems  to  me  is  to  play  the  priest  and  the  Levite 
of  the  parable."  Nevertheless,  he  was  constitutionally 
timid  about  sickness. 

This  memorable  year  was  not  to  close  without  the 


222  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

loss  of  yet  another  beloved  boy-singer.  A  leaf  from 
the  pastor's  own  note-book  again  gives  the  particulars. 
"Monday,  Dec.  17th,  1849.  This  morning,  at  four 
o'clock,  a  messenger  came  for  me,  from  Dr.  Coxe  to 
see  his  son.  I  rose,  hastened  to  the  house  through 
the  thick  fog,  and  found  the  dear  child  dying — the 
family  kneeling  around  the  bed.  'There,  Doctor,  is 
your  little  chorister,'  said  his  mother.  I  prayed  as  I 
could  with  the  distracted  family — ere  I  was  done  the 
boy  was  no  more.  I  stayed  some  time  trying  to  com- 
fort them.  About  ten  days  before,  at  the  Ladies'  Em- 
ployment Society,  I  had  said  to  his  mother,  'Willie  is 
now  ready  to  take  Fred's  place.  He  must  go  into  the 
upper  choir.'  She  asked  me  if  I  remembered  how  she 
received  what  I  said.  I  did.  She  sighed,  and  a  sad  ex- 
pression passed  over  her  face.  '  Your  words,'  she  said, 
'seemed  prophetic — "the  upper  choir."'  William  Au- 
gustine Coxe*  was  a  lovely,  beautiful  boy,  the  very 
ideal  of  a  chorister.  His  voice  was  coming  out  finely 
in  the  alto,  and  we  calculated  on  having  him  for  a  long 
while,  he  being  but  ten  years  old.  He  was  to  have 
sung  the  alto  in  '  Arise  and  shine '  on  Twelfth  Night — 
just  as  Fred  began  last  year.  Down-stairs  too  "  (with 
the  lower  choir  by  the  chancel),  "  he  had  been  sitting 
precisely  in  Fred's  place.  So  God  takes  my  boys — I 
trust  to  himself.  I  have  often  talked  of  dressing  them 
in  surplices,  but  he  arrays  them  in  his  own  white 
robes." 

*  A  nephew  of  Bishop  Coxe,  of  Western  New  York. 


BO  Y   CHOIZS.  223 

Dr.  Muhlenberg's  character  and  position,  with  his 
fine  musical  taste,  enabled  him  to  make  the  worship  of 
his  church,  with  regard  to  the  music,  exceptionally  per- 
fect. The  benefit  to  a  boy  of  such  an  association  soon 
became  understood;  so  that  he  had  always  his  choice 
of  singing  boys,  and  rarely  sweet  were  the  voices  of 
some  thus  chosen.  On  the  other  hand,  his  own  love 
of  music,  and  the  holy  joy  he  found  in  praising  God, 
naturally  led  him  to  take  great  pleasure  in  these  young 
choristers.  But  he  failed  not  to  watch  himself  jeal- 
ously in  this  particular;  and  when,  in  a  certain  in- 
stance, a  pre-eminently  beautiful  voice  was  likely  to 
be  no  longer  available,  he  exclaimed  to  an  enthusi- 
astic musical  friend  sympathizing  with  him  in  the 

case,  "Ah!  my  dear  E ,  I  fear  we  have  taken  a 

carnal  delight  in  C 's  singing." 

The  Psalter  was  chanted  antiphonally,  the  boys  of 
the  lower  choir  leading  the  congregation.  The  Pointed 
Psalter  which  they  used  was  arranged  from  a  larger 
work  on  Church  Music  prepared  by  Dr.  Muhlenberg  in 
conjunction  with  Dr.  Wainwright.  On  Friday  even- 
ings, after  the  weekly  lecture,  the  members  of  the 
church  generally  were  practised  in  congregational  sing- 
ing. There  were  no  hired  singers  except  the  precentor, 
or  leader  as  he  was  there  called. 

Looking  back  many  years  later  upon  some  of  the  dis- 
tinctive features  of  his  church,  Dr.  Muhlenberg  said: 
"I  never  thought  myself  much  of  a  musician.  Had  I 
been  more  of  one,  I  might  not  have  been  satisfied  with 
the  kind  of  music  I  have  been  mostly  concerned  for  as 


224  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

suitable  for  the  worship  of  the  church.  I  have  always 
desired  the  chorus  of  the  congregation,  not  however 
to  the  exclusion  of  more  elaborate  music  by  a  trained 
choir.  My  abhorrence  of  a  quartette  is  sufficiently  re- 
corded in  my  'Lecture  on  Congregational  Singing.'* 
I  was  the  first  to  introduce  boy  choirs  in  New  York, 
but  I  reflect  upon  that  with  less  pleasure  when  I  see 
how  they  have  since  been  used,  not  to  lead,  but  to  be 
heard  alone;  their  voices  too  often  shrill  and  unpleas- 
ant from  the  want  of  culture.  I  fear  also  the  effect 
upon  the  poor  boys  themselves.  I  am  glad  I  have 
written  some  things  that  have  met  with  general  accept- 
ance, such  as  the  Christmas  Carol,  the  Advent  Choral, 
etc.,  and  I  wish  that  as  in  some  other  things  the  clergy 
have  followed  the  customs  of  the  Church  of  the  Holy 
Communion,  they  had  also  done  so  in  gathering  their 
congregations  together  for  the  practice  of  congrega- 
tional singing." 

The  Weekly  Eucharist,  the  Offertory,  and  the  Daily 
Service,  also  passed  under  review  by  him  in  connection 
with  the  foregoing.  The  weekly  celebration  of  the 
Lord's  Supper,  in  the  Church  of  the  Holy  Communion, 
did  not  begin  with  the  beginning  of  the  church.  It 
was  not  entered  on  until  the  pastor  knew  something  of 
his  congregation,  and  then  very  carefully,  and  with  a 
distinct  instruction  that  in  establishing  such,  it  was  not 
expected  that  every  coriamunicant  should  receive  every 
Lord's  day.  Heads  of  families,  more  especially  among 

*  See  Ev.  Cath.  Papers,  Second  Series. 


THE    WEEKLY   COMMUNION.  225 

the  poor  and  where  there  were  young  children  requir- 
ing oversight,  and  other  responsible  members  of  much- 
occupied  households,  domestic  servants  and  the  like, 
by  means  of  a  weekly  communion,  could  divide  and 
partake  one  on  this  Sunday  and  another  on  the  next. 
Again :  the  Holy  Table,  found  spread  each  Lord's  day, 
often  offered  in  seasons  of  especial  personal  sorrow,  or 
joy,  very  acceptable  comfort,  at  the  time  most  needed, 
and  which  would  have  passed  away  perhaps  before 
the  recurrence  of  the  monthly  administration.  These, 
among  others,  were  reasons  why  a  free  church,  in  par- 
ticular, might  profit  greatly  by  a  weekly  opportunity 
for  communing,  and  on  these  and  many  similar  points, 
the  congregation  were  very  plainly  taught;  they  were 
further  presented  with  a  Pastoral  Tract,  treating  of  the 
Weekly  Eucharist  on  its  higher  ground. 

In  connection  with  the  foregoing,  it  should  be  ob- 
served that  the  weekly  communion  in  this  church  was 
a  distinct  service.  The  regular  morning  prayer  with  the 
psalter  and  lessons  was  at  nine  o'clock,  and  the  litany, 
ante-communion  service,  sermon  and  offertory  at  half- 
past  ten,  at  the  close  of  which  there  was  an  interval 
of  some  fifteen  minutes,  in  which  the  clergyman  and 
others  retired  from  the  church  to  re-assemble  upon  the 
bell  striking  twelve — the  appointed  hour  for  the  com- 
munion service.  There  were  always  a  number  at  this 
last  service,  who  had  not  been  present  at  the  earlier 
ones,  and,  on  the  other  hand,  many  communicants  who 
had  recently  partaken  did  not  return. 

Asking  Dr.  Muhlenberg  for  his  latest  thoughts  on 
15 


226  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS   MUHLENBERG. 

this  point,  he  said :  "  I  still  adhere  in  the  main  to  the 
views  of  my  tract  on  the  subject  of  the  weekly  com- 
munion, but  I  would,  in  another  edition  of  the  tract, 
enlarge  more  upon  its  dangers  as  a  custom.  We  need 
extraordinary  acts  of  devotion,  and  the  communion 
ceases  to  be  such  when  it  is  weekly  or  oftener.  Then, 
again,  the  good  old  practice  of  special  preparation,  the 
need  of  which  is  seen  in  the  abundance  of  books  for  the 
purpose  by  the  best  of  men,  I  fear  is  almost  necessarily 
laid  aside  by  those  who  partake  of  the  communion 
whenever  they  happen  to  be  present  at  its  celebration. 
To  speak  in  homely  phrase,  the  quantity,  does  not,  I 
fear,  improve  the  quality.  I  don't  know  that  those 
who  receive  every  day,  are  proportionably  greater 
saints,  unless  there  be  saintliness  in  the  practice  itself, 
which  they  may  be  in  some  danger  of  assuming.  It 
seems  hard  to  say  it,  but  I  fear  there  is  a  class  in  our 
church,  to  be  found  in  none  other,  who  go  to  the  Holy 
Communion  with  little  or  no  preparation." 

Concerning  the  support  of  free  churches  he  said: 
"Although  the  free  Church  of  the  Holy  Communion 
has  always  been  maintained  by  the  weekly  offertory,  I 
have  never  thought  that  that  should  be  exclusively 
the  means  of  support  for  such  churches.  The  offertory 
should  give  the  opportunity  for  all  to  contribute  accord- 
ing to  their  ability,  but,  in  addition,  the  more  wealthy 
members  of  the  congregation  should  subscribe  towards 
an  annual  reliable  income.  I  say  wealthy  members,  be- 
cause I  have  always  repudiated  the  notion  that  free 
churches  should  be  exclusively  for  the  poor.  Their 


THE    DAILY   SERVICE.  227 

fundamental  idea  is  the  rich  and  the  poor,  meeting  to- 
gether in  the  house  of  the  Lord.  They  are  practical 
demonstrations  of  the  Christian  church  as  the  divine 
brotherhood.  The  objection  to  free  churches,  that  fam- 
ilies can  not  sit  together,  could  be  removed  by  some 
agreement  among  the  members  of  the  congregation, 
whereby  the  rich  and  the  poor  have  an  equal  opportu- 
nity of  securing  regular  seats." 

With  regard  to  the  daily  service,  which  also  he  was 
the  first  to  introduce  amongst  us,  he  thus  expressed 
himself:  "  If  there  were  no  other  argument  for  the  con- 
stant morning  and  evening  prayer  in  our  churches  (and 
we  confess  that  its  expediency  in  all  cases  is  a  ques- 
tion), there  is  one  which  should  weigh  with  Protestants, 
viz.,  that  the  Holy  Scriptures  are  thus  publicly  read,  in 
course,  for  the  benefit  of  all  who  choose  to  hear.  This 
is  a  great  office,  for  which  our  church  has  provided,  and 
which  we  believe  is  peculiar  to  her  among  the  churches 
in  Christendom.  She  is  thus  a  perpetual  preacher  of 
the  pure  word  of  God.  Though  there  be  but  a  solitary 
few  to  listen,  she  acquits  herself  of  her  duty  in  pro- 
claiming the  whole  counsel  of  her  Lord.  The  thought 
is  indeed  sublime,  that  from  year  to  year,  from  age  to 
age,  her  voice  as  God's  prophet,  keeps  sounding  on,  in 
the  same  old  words  of  Holy  Writ,  ceaseless  and  con- 
stant in  its  utterance,  as  the  rising  and  setting  of  th 
sun."  * 

Dr.  Muhlenberg's  note-books  of  1849  and  1850,  con- 

*  Evangelical  Catholic,  1851. 


228  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

tain  some  characteristic  entries,  glancing  at  church 
questions.  Thus:  " Finished  reading  Dr.  Arnold's  Life. 
A  noble  fellow,  whatever  were  his  faults.  How  much 
my  own  thoughts  and  feelings  in  the  school  have  been 
like  his — and  in  his  views  of  the  church  I  have  more 
sympathy  than  orthodoxy  would  allow.  It  is  refresh- 
ing to  commune  with  a  man  of  110  party,  yet  full  of 
zeal." 

Here  is  his  minute  cf  a  special  service  at  the  de- 
parture of  a  young  clergyman,  a  former  scholar,  as  a 
missionary  to  Wisconsin,  where  a  colony  of  the  Church 
of  the  Holy  Communion,  and  bearing  the  same  name, 
had  been  planted.  It  was  on  a  Sunday,  Sept.  16th,  the 
pastor's  fifty-third  birthday.  There  had  been  the  regu- 
lar services,  morning  and  afternoon :  "  In  the  evening," 
he  wrote,  "  we  had  a  missionary  meeting  in  the  church. 
We  began  with  the  Lord's  Prayer,  all  kneeling,  then 
the  versicles.  The  choir  sang  the  Benedic  to  the  an- 
them. For  the  lesson,  the  35th  of  Isaiah;  after  which 
I  made  some  remarks  about  our  colony,  the  Church  of 
the  Holy  Communion.  Bishop  Kemper  followed  in  an 
extemporary  address  about  Wisconsin,  and  thanking 
the  congregation  for  their  interest  in  his  diocese.  I 
said  a  few  parting  words  to  the  missionary,  and  we 
sang  '  Go  forth,  ye  heralds,  in  his  name.'  Then  prayer, 
several  collects  with  that  in  the  Institution  Office,  used 
in  the  third  person.  The  bishop  gave  the  benediction. 
Many  of  the  people  came  up  to  bid  the  missionary 
good-by,  so  it  was  a  kind  of  farewell  meeting.  Besides 
Bishop  Kemper,  Bishop ,  and  Dr. ,  and  a  iium- 


THE   MISSIONARY  MEETING.  229 

ber  of  the  city  clergy  were  present.  They  made  no 
remarks.  It  may  be  they  were  not  very  well  pleased 
with  such  an  irregularity,  as  perhaps  they  regarded  it. 
But  I  am  sure  the  meeting  did  good.  The  people  will 
feel  pledged  to  support  the  mission  in  a  degree  that 
would  not  otherwise  have  been.  Can  we  do  nothing 
except  we  begin,  'Dearly  beloved  brethren'?  Are 
rubrics  to  be  the  choke-strings  of  the  heart?  Bishop 
Kemper  was  much  pleased  with  the  congregation. 
The  church  was  quite  full.  Thank  God  for  so  pleasant 
a  birthday.  May  he  hear  the  prayers  I  put  up  at  the 
Holy  Communion,  which  it  was  grateful  to  me  to  re- 
ceive from  the  hand  of  the  pastor  of  my  youth.  Bishop 
Kemper  has  done  a  vast  amount  of  good — He1  is  the 
Father  of  Missions  in  our  church." 

Nov.  16th,  1849,  he  notes:  "Read  for  the  lecture  in 
church  this  evening  Newman's  sermon  on  the  Individ- 
uality of  the  Soul."  It  was  not  his  custom  in  these 
weekly  lectures  to  deliver  an  original  composition  un- 
less during  Passion  Week,  or  at  other  special  seasons. 
He  would  almost  invariably  avail  himself  of  the  rich 
garnered  thoughts  of  some  superior  writer  (openly,  of 
course,  the  book  before  him  or  in  his  hand),  but  with 
a  remarkable  appropriation  of  the  subject  matter,  and 
with  gesture  and  tone,  the  omission  of  a  word  or  pas- 
sage here,  and  the  substitution  of  one  there,  that  made 
the  teaching  wholly  his  own.  Whether  the  author  who 
did  duty  for  him  were  Anglican  or  Evangelical, — New- 
man of  Oxford  or  Robertson  of  Brighton, — it  always 
seemed  to  be  none  other  than  himself  who  preached, 


230  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS   MUHLENBERG. 

and  always  with  edification  and  enjoyment  to  his  hear- 
ers. These  lectures  were  read  from  the  desk.  In  the 
pulpit  he  never  delivered  other  than  original  discourses. 

Later,  we  find:  "My  old  pupil,  0 ,  called  upon 

me.  Very  warm  in  his  expressions  of  attachment.  In- 
sists I  am  more  of  a  churchman  than  I  think  myself 
to  be." 

Several  of  the  clergy  were  at  this  time  interested  in 
endeavoring  to  dissuade  the  rector  of  one  of  the  large 
city  churches  from  his  purpose  to  secede  to  Rome,  but 
with  small  success.  Of  one  of  these,  Dr.  Muhlenberg 

wrote:  "W ,  can  say  little  to  the  purpose  against 

this  intention,  as  he  is  not  far  from  the  same  thing 
himself.  So  it  will  be.  The  sacramental  system  can 
never  be  carried  out  in  our  church.  I  have  long  since 
been  convinced  of  it.  Bishop  Ives  will  have  either  to 
retrace  his  steps,  or  advance  to  Eome  * — God  give  me 
grace  to  be  able  to  do  something  to  open  the  eyes  of 

my  dear  M (another  old  pupil).  He  is  so  purely 

intellectual  I  doubt  my  power." 

Descending  from  church  themes  to  common  affairs, 
we  have  another  jotting  down,  equally  illustrative  in 
its  way,  since  even  prophets  must  be  clad, — "Called 
at  my  sister's.  My  mother  gave  me  money  to  pay  my 
tailor's  bill.  I  would  wear  coarser  clothes  if  my  mother 
would  let  me." 

On  the  26th  of  June,  1851,  this  -best  of  mothers  was 
taken  from  him.  His  suffering  at  the  separation  was 

*  Two  years  later,  Bishop  Ives  sent  in  his  resignation  to  the  House 
of  Bishops,  preparatory  to  his  "Submission  to  the  Church  of  Eome." 


A    BEREAVEMENT.  231 

acute.  For  almost  half  a  century  these  two  had  been 
more  to  each  other  than  to  any  one  else  upon  earth. 
Mrs.  Muhlenberg's  early  widowhood,  and  her  son's  un- 
married life,  had  excluded  any  nearer  tie  and  endeared 
them,  mutually,  the  more  closely. 

It  is  difficult  to  do  justice  to  the  tenderness  of  his 
rich  nature  without  lifting  a  little  the  curtain  of  his 
domestic  privacy  at  this  supreme  moment,  for  such  to 
him  it  was.  Often  he  had  said  to  his  beloved  parent, 
"  Oh,  mother,  I  can  never  look  upon  you  in  your  coffin." 
But  the  inevitable  hour  for  that  sight  came.  What  it 
brought  to  his  heart  is  not  to  be  told  here.  In  his  pri- 
vate diary  there  are  twenty  large  pages  filled  with  the 
particulars  of  her  illness  and  death,  and  how  the  op- 
pressive hours  passed  with  him.  He  dwells  on  her 
Christian  faith,  and  what  he  owed  her ;  her  excellence 
as  a  mother  and  his  own  shortcomings  as  a  son.  A 
very  remarkable  and  affecting  record. 

He  ministered  to  his  parent,  spiritually  as  well  as 
bodily,  side  by  side  with  his  only  sister.  Mrs.  Muhlen- 
berg  was  seventy-seven  years  old,  and  of  great  weight ; 
"A  load  of  flesh,"  her  son  wrote,  "on.  the  skeleton  of  a 
bird."  She  had  a  most  distressing  malady,  and  suf- 
fered intensely.  Fainting  nature  panted  for  release. 
Towards  the  last,  the  physician,  a  dear  friend  of  the 
family,  sat  holding  her  hand,  his  finger  upon  the  flutter- 
ing pulse.  The  sufferer  scanned  his  countenance  anx- 
iously. "How  much  longer,  doctor,"  she  whispered. 
"Mother,"  urged  her  son,  "you  will  have  faith  and  pa- 
tience to  the  end?"  "I  have,  I  have,"  she  instantly 


232  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

replied.  Almost  his  next  words  were,  "  God  be  praised, 
my  mother  is  at  rest !  " 

With  his  deep  affection,  and  tender,  delicate  sensi- 
bility, it  will  be  readily  conceived  that  every  thing  con- 
nected with  the  last  duties  to  his  mother's  remains  was 
the  subject  of  very  jealous  care.  No  hired  persons 
should  be  employed.  None  but  loving  Christian  hands 
might  touch  his  dead,  make  the  grave-clothes,  and 
watch  with  the  precious  body,  during  the  nights  in- 
tervening between  the  decease  and  interment.  Mrs. 
Muhlenberg  died  at  about  half  past  two  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon.  At  the  evening  prayer  of  that  day  the  be- 
reaved pastor,  took  his  place  at  the  lecturn,  for  the 
usual  service  of  the  church.  The  second  lesson,  from 
the  third  of  Ephesians,  came  with  beautiful  appropri- 
ateness. "  Jesus  Christ,  of  whom  the  whole  family  in 

heaven  and  earth  is  named That  we  may 

be  able  to  comprehend  with  all  saints,  what  is  the 
length,  and  depth,  and  breadth,  and  height  of  the 
love  of  God,  that  passeth  knowledge." 

In  the  morning,  he  had  left  his  dying  mother 
for  a  brief  space,  at  the  summons  of  a  sick  man,- 
one  of  the  poorest  of  the  congregation.  "Are  you 
able  for  this?"  it  was  asked  by  one  who  announced 

the  call.     Why  not  let  Mr.  (the  assistant)  go?" 

"No!"  he  said.     "lean  not  help  my  mother.     I  think 

I  can  help  poor  J .     So  there  is  all  the  more  reason 

for  my  going  when  he  sends  for  me." 

The  funeral  was  a  singularly  plain  and  simple  one. 
Dr.  Muhlenberg  always  entertained  a  very  strong  feel- 


t 
ARRANGING    THE    STUDY.  233 

ing  on  this  point.  Any  thing  like  a  pageant,  or  at  all 
ornamental  or  complimentary,  he  thought  not  only  un- 
real and  out  of  place,  but  almost  a  mockery  of  the  sad 
and  solemn  reality — the  humiliation  of  death. 

He  allowed  no  eye  but  his  own  to  gaze  upon  his 
mother's  face  when  it  was  closed,  for  the  last  time, 
from  mortal  view.  Motioning  every  one  from  the 
room,  including  the  undertakers,  his  sister  having 
previously  withdrawn,  he  remained  some  time  alone 
with  the  dead,  and  then,  with  his  own  hands,  put 
down  the  coffin  lid,  and  called  the  men  to  fasten  it. 

One  or  two  other  touches  of  character  are  worthy 
of  note.  Like  most  literary  men,  he  was  apt  to  have 
rather  a  book -strewn  and  disarranged  study.  His 
mother  was  punctiliously  neat  and  orderly.  When 
it  was  found  desirable,  from  the  construction  of  the 
house  and  other  circumstances,  to  convey  the  re- 
mains into  the  church  through  this  room,  before  the 
hour  for  the  removal  came,  he  occupied  himself  and 
an  attendant  in  adjusting  every  thing  just  as  she  used 
to  desire  he  should  keep  it,  that  there  might  be  noth- 
ing other  than  she  would  have  liked,  as  her  corpse 
was  borne  through. 

After  his  return  from  the  funeral,  he  sat  in  his  study 
for  hours  of  that  day  amid  this  lifeless-looking  order, 
reading,  from  time  to  time,  in  a  Bible  of  his  mother's, 
which  she  had  used  daily.  "How  do  you  feel?"  in- 
quired a  sympathizing  Christian  friend,  finding  him 
so  engaged.  "  More  like  a  man  than  a  saint,"  was  the 
reply. 


234  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS   MUHLENBERG. 

It  was  some  time  before  he  became  used  to  having 
no  mother.  Several  days  after  her  death,  having  re- 
ceived an  unexpected  five-thousand-dollar  subscription 
for  St.  Luke's,  he  hastened  as  of  old  to  share  his  joy 
with  her,  and  only  slowly  recollected  that  nothing  but 
dreary  vacancy  remained  in  the  room  towards  which 
he  was  bending  his  steps. 


CHAPTER   XV. 

1851-1852. 

Projects  an  Evangelical  Catholic  Periodical.— Deference  to  his  Mother's 
Wishes.— Object  of  the  Paper. — What  is  Evangelical  Catholicism? — 
General  Surprise  on  Issue  of  Evangelical  Catholic.— Longings  for  Chris- 
tian Unity.— Hints  on  Catholic  Union.— Minor  Use  of  Periodical.— 
Sisterhood  of  Holy  Communion  Organized.— Its  Principles.— St.  Luke's 
Hospital.— A  Young  Physician's  First  Fee.— Significant  Bequest.— Ne- 
gotiations of  Corporation  of  St.  Luke's  with  Church  of  St.  George  the 
Martyr. — Site  Consecrated  before  Determined  upon. — Urgent  Demands 
for  Hospital  Shelter.— The  Embryo  St.  Luke's  in  a  Rear  Tenement 
House. 

IT  is  not  surprising  that  at  the  beginning  of  his  pas- 
torate of  the  Church  of  the  Holy  Communion,  Dr. 
Muhlenberg  should  have  been  little  understood.  The 
church  was  projected,  as  he  said,  "  in  the  penumbra  of 
Tractarianism,"  and  although,  before  it  was  opened  for 
worship,  he  had  emerged  again  into  the  clear  sunlight 
of  evangelic  truth,  "as  set  forth  by  the  Reformers," 
there  clung  to  him  certain  Anglican  usages,  which, 
with  his  religious  aestheticism,  and  the  general  appear- 
ance and  ordering  of  his  church,  justified  the  conclu- 
sion of  the  general  observer,  that  he  was  an  extreme 
"Puseyite,"  the  then  sobriquet  for  "advanced"  or  Ro- 
manizing churchmen.  The  open,  uncushioned  benches, 
absence  of  women  singers  in  the  choir,  daily  morning 
and  evening  prayer,  and  the  number  of  poor  people 


236  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

connected  with  the  parish,  were  all  construed  as  indica- 
tive of  what  was  heard  of  the  Tractarians  on  the  other 
side  of  the  water. 

Dr.  Muhlenberg  apprehended  all  this,  and,  at  an 
early  day,  conceived  the  idea  of  issuing  an  occasional 
paper,  which  should  exemplify  the  true  principles  and 
genius  of  the  Church  of  the  Holy  Communion.  Nor 
only  this.  It  was  not  possible  for  a  man  of  his  gifts 
and  aspirations  to  abide  simply  in  the  routine  of  parish 
work,  however  rich  and  beautiful  that  work  might  be- 
come under  his  hand.  His  heart  was  full  of  the  idea 
of  Christian  unity.  He  deeply  deplored  the  divisions 
existing  among  those  who  called  themselves  after  the 
one  Christ,  and  longed  for  some  method  of  communica- 
tion with  the  church  at  large,  which  should  make  for 
peace  and  love.  Hence  his  conclusion  to  edit  a  paper, 
differing  from  the  religious  journals  of  the  time,  none 
of  which  approached  his  thought  on  the  cardinal  point 
of  Christian  brotherhood.  The  publication  was  not  to 
be  an  organ  of  either  of  the  parties  of  the  day — the 
one  setting  forth  this,  the  other  that  view,  of  the  Chris- 
tian church — but  an  exponent  and  illustrator  of  the 
church,  both  in  her  objective  and  her  subjective  ele- 
ments, and  particularly  in  her  office  as  "  a  healer  of  the 
ills  that  encompass  us." 

The  Evangelical  Catholic  was  in  his  mind,  for  some 
time  before  it  had  a  tangible  existence.  He  was  held 
back  from  putting  his  design  into  effect  by  the  stren- 
uous objection  of  his  venerable  mother.  "  Do  not  make 
yourself  a  newspaper  editor,  William,"  she  urged,  as  in 


THE   "EVANGELICAL    CATHOLIC."  237 

his  early  manhood,  she  had  remonstrated  against  his 
being  a  "  school-master/'  There  was  not  the  same  prin- 
ciple involved,  in  the  present  case,  and  he  determined 
to  wait.  "  My  dear  mother,"  he  said,  "  misapprehends 
the  matter,  but  she  shall  not  be  vexed  in  her  old  age 
by  any  undertaking,  the  sound  of  which  is  so  distaste- 
ful to  her." 

Within  three  months  after  his  mother's  decease,  the 
first  number  of  the  Evangelical  Catholic  appeared,  pros- 
pectively  as  a  weekly,  later  as  a  monthly,  "  chiefly  de- 
voted to  matters  of  practical  Christianity."  Its  motto 
was:  "For  His  Body's  sake,  which  is  the  Church." 

Dr.  Muhlenberg  originated  the  term  "  Evangelical 
Catholic,"  and  in  view  of  the  importance  of  the  subject, 
and  the  value  he  set  upon  this  combination  of  words, 
as  conveying  explicitly  the  true  theory  of  the  church 
of  Christ,  it  is  proper  to  insert  here,  an  exposition,  by 
his  own  pen,  of  what  is  to  be  understood  by  EVANGELICAL 
CATHOLICISM.  He  is  addressing,  "in  a  brief  and  plain 
letter"  one  who  has  shown  some  misapprehension  re- 
garding the  title  of  his  paper. 

"  You  must  allow  me,"  he  writes,  "  to  demur  at  your 
construction  of  the  name"  (Evangelical  Catholic).  "You 
seem  to  think  it  an  ingenious  fancy  for  meeting  the 
views  of  both  parties  in  the  church — a  happy  device 
for  being  High  and  Low  at  the  same  time.  Something 
like  this,  I  find,  is  the  notion  of  others,  who,  on  that 
account,  dislike  the  name,  as  they  well  may  with  such 

an  interpretation  of  it We  do  not  aspire  to 

be  a  tertium  quid  between  the  existing  parties — a  little 


238  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

of  each  and  not  much  of  either — a  'whitish-brown' 
among  the  ecclesiastical  hues  of  the  day.  We  do  not 
profess  to  be  either  Catholic  or  Evangelical,  much  less 
both,  in  the  cant  use  of  those  terms.  We  employ  them 
in  their  original  and  proper  signification,  and  thus 
understood  they  express  something  homogeneous  and 
positive,  very  different  from  the  heterogeneous  and 
mongrel  things  which  they  have  been  supposed  to 
stand  for. 

"In  saying  what  we  mean  by  Evangelical  Catholi- 
cism, let  me  begin  at  the  beginning,  and  express  myself 
in  a  plain  and  simple  way,  in  order  to  be  understood 
by  others  who  may  be  less  informed  than  yourself. 

"  Of  course,  in  common  with  all  churchmen,  we  pro- 
fess to  be  Catholics.  We  do  not  repudiate  the  Creed. 
We  believe  in  the  Holy  Catholic  Church:  we  believe 
that  our  Lord  came  into  the  world,  not  only  to  make 
a  revelation  of  the  truth  to  mankind,  but  also  to  found 
an  institution  which  should  hold  and  be  actuated  by 
the  truth  he  revealed,  and  of  which  he  himself  should 
be  the  everliving  Head.  If  we  believed  that  he  came 
only  to  make  a  revelation  of  the  truth — to  impart  a 
system  of  doctrine  and  practice  to  the  world,  it  might 
be  sufficient  that  we  called  ourselves  Christians;  there- 
by simply  professing  our  belief  in  what  he  taught — 
adopting  Christianity  as  our  religion.  .  But  we  believe 
in  Christianity,  not  as  an  abstraction,  but  as  an  in- 
stitution— a  divine  institution,  adapted  to  all  mankind 
in  all  ages :  in  other  words,  the  Catholic  Church.  This 
we  declare  in  calling  ourselves  Catholics.  Hence  the 


EVANGELICAL    CATHOLICISM.  239 

importance  of  adhering  to  this  ancient  appellation.  To 
give  it  up  would  be  ignoring  the  existence  of  the 
church — would  be  admitting  that  Christianity  is  no 
more  than  a  doctrine  or  a  philosophy,  and  that  we  are 
simply  disciples,  not  members  of  a  body.  No :  as  I  am 
more  than  a  disciple — as  I  would  not  be  a  unit,  an 
isolated  believer,  or  associated,  by  a  common  creed, 
with  the  living  few  immediately  about  me — I  will 
glory  in  the  name  which  identifies  me  with  the  one 
congregation  of  Christ  everywhere,  and  which  tells 
that  as  a  "  church  member,"  here  or  there,  I  belong  not 
to  a  society  which  began  yesterday  or  a  century  ago, 
but  to  the  divine  incorporation  which  has  been  per- 
petuated from  age  to  age,  a  living  and  uninterrupted 
body,  from  the  days  of  the  humanity  of  the  Son  of  God. 
I  grieve  therefore,  to  see  Protestants  so  indifferent  to 
the  name.  It  looks  as  if  they  had  quite  lost  the  church 
idea  of  Christianity,  and  were  as  well  content  to  con- 
tinue in  their  separate  and  divided  state,  as  in  the  old 
bonds  of  the  Catholic  brotherhood.  This,  however,  I 
know,  is  not  altogether  the  case.  There  are  signs 
among  Protestants  of  a  longing  for  an  outward  Cath- 
olicity, which  shall  express  and  give  effect  to  their 
agreement  in  those  cardinal  articles  of  the  Fathers, 
which  are  the  main  element  in  Catholicism.  In  testi- 
mony of  this,  they  should  persist  in  calling  themselves 
Catholics.  On  no  account  should  the  name  be  sur- 
rendered (as  it  now  so  generally  is)  to  those  who  claim 
it  exclusively  for  themselves.  It  seems  a  concession 
that  they  have  all  the  right  to  it,  whereas,  at  most,  they 


240  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS   MUHLENBERG. 

are  only  a  part  of  the  Catholic  brotherhood.  How 
sound  a  part  I  need  not  just  now  say,  but  certainly  a 
very  un brotherly  part  since  they  excommunicate  thou- 
sands and  tens  of  thousands  who  have  every  Scriptural 
mark  of  brethren  in  Christ.  They  are  Roman  Cath- 
olics. Let  them  have  the  appellation  which  designates 
their  true  position  in  the  ecclesiastical  world.  Their 
communion  is  bounded  by  a  circumference  which  has 
the  Roman  Episcopate  for  its  centre.  All  outside  of  that 
they  pronounce  to  be  outside  of  the  Catholic  Church. 
The  Bishop  of  Rome,  as  the  successor  of  St.  Peter,  they 
say,  is  the  vicar  of  Christ  on  earth,  and  in  order  to  be 
in  communion  with  Christ,  men  must  be  in  communion 
with  the  Bishop  of  Rome.  This  is  Roman  Catholicism. 
We  protest  against  it,  and  hence  are  called  Protestants. 
We  might  be  called  Protestant  Catholics;  there  would 
be  nothing  incongruous  in  the  designation,  since  it 
would  denote  one  portion  of  the  Catholic  body  protest- 
ing against  another,  which,  indeed,  claims  to  be  the 
whole.  But  there  is  this  defect  in  it,  that  it  does  not 
state  the  ground  on  which  the  one  portion  protests 
against  the  other.  What  is  that  ground?  The  Gospel. 
Not  ancient  Catholicity,  nor  primitive,  nor  even  Apos- 
tolical Catholicity;  though  each  of  these  affords  solid 
ground  for  our  protest,  and  as  we  took  one  or  the  other, 
we  should  be  ancient,  primitive,  or  Apostolical  Cath- 
olics. We  go  at  once  to  the  Gospel,  and  assert  our- 
selves Gospel  (i.  e.,  Evangelical)  Catholics.  We  oppose 
the  Church  of  the  Gospel  to  the  Church  of  Rome.  In 
order  to  find  that  Church,  we  have  only  to  turn  to 


EVANGELICAL    CATHOLICISM.  241 

the  beloved  Evangelist,  who  opens  his  Gospel  with, 
announcing  it — 'The  Word  was  God.'  'The  Word 
was  made  flesh,  and  dwelt  among  us.'  '  He  came  unto 
his  own,  and  his  own  received  him  not;  but  as  many 
as  received  him,  to  them  gave  he  power  to  become 
the  sons  of  God,  even  to  them  that  believe  on  his 
Name:  which  were  born  not  of  blood,  nor  of  the  will 
of  the  flesh,  nor  of  the  will  of  man,  but  of  God.'  Here 
is  the  origin  of  the  church — the  incarnation  of  the 
eternal  Son.  Those  who  received  him,  who  believed 
011  his  Name,  were  made  the  sons  of  God;  conse- 
quently, the  brethren  of  him,  the  Son  of  God  made 
flesh.  This  consequence  of  brotherhood  with  Christ 
is  not  mere  inference.  St.  Paul  styles  the  Son  of 
God  'the  First-born  among  many  brethren.'  Again: 
'  He  is  not  ashamed  to  call  them  brethren.'  And 
again:  'He  took  not  on  him  the  nature  of  angels,  but 
he  took  on  him  the  seed  of  Abraham ;  wherefore  in  all 
things  it  behooved  him  to  be  made  like  unto  his  breth- 
ren.' Now  these  brethren,  among  whom  Christ  is  the 
First-born,  whom  he  is  not  ashamed  to  call  his  breth- 
ren—  this  divine  brotherhood  can  be  no  other  than 
the  church;  and  since  it  is  not  confined  to  one  na- 
tion, as  was  the  Jewish  Church,  but  is  gathered  out 
of  all  nations  and  kindred  and  people  and  tongues,  it 
is  the  Catholic  Church — the  Church  universal — of  the 
Gospel." 

"What  were  the  Keformers  and  their  followers?     Did 
they  cease  to  be  Catholics  ?     By  no  means.     They  as- 
16 


242  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

serted  their  Catholicity,  and  proved  it  by  appealing  to 
Scripture  and  antiquity.  They  never  dreamed  of  strik- 
ing out  of  the  Creed  the  article  of  the  Holy  Catholic 
Church.  But  then,  contending  as  they  did  for  the 
Gospel  doctrine  of  union  with  Christ  by  faith,  immedi- 
ate and  direct,  in  opposition  to  the  Roman  doctrine  of 
communion  with  Christ  only  through  the  priesthood — 
proclaiming  the  glorious  liberty  of  the  sons  of  God,  a 
deliverance  from  the  servitude  of  a  system  which  gen- 
erated not  the  spirit  of  adoption,  but  the  'spirit  of 
bondage  again  to  fear' — they  were  distinctively  Gos- 
pel, Evangelical  Catholics,  and  such,  I  maintain,  is  the 
proper  denomination  of  all  Protestants  who  honestly 
and  heartily  receive  the  Apostles'  Creed. 

"From  what  I  have  said,  you  will  be  ready  to  con- 
clude that  Evangelical  Catholicism,  after  all,  means 
nothing  more  than  'Evangelicalism.'  I  hope  to  show 
you  wherein  it  differs  from  that  on  the  one  side,  and 
from  'Anglicanism'  on  the  other. 

".  .  .  .  But  you  say,  to  speak  of  Evangelical  Ca- 
tholicism is  tautology,  since  all  true  Catholicism  must 
be  Evangelical,  and  all  true  Evangelicalism  must  be 
Catholic.  Certainly,  and  I  grant  that  Catholic  would 
be  sufficient,  if  there  was  not  a  well-nigh  universal 
understanding  that  the  term  is  synonymous  with  Ro- 
man Catholic.  This  is  a  misfortune — but  so  it  is.  'Use 
is  the  law  of  language ' — use  has  affixed  a  certain  sig- 
nification to  the  term,  and  we  can .  not  alter  it.  Speak 
of  Catholics,  and  not  one  in  a  hundred  would  suppose 
you  meant  any  others  than  members  of  the  Roman 


EVANGELICAL    CATHOLICISM.  243 

Church.  If  we  will  have  the  name,  and  surrender  it 
we  can  not,  we  must  qualify  it,  we  must  explain  it,  in 
order  to  guard  against  the  common  construction  of  it — 
we  must  affix  an  epithet  which  will  tell  that  we  are  not 
Romanists,  and  ivhy  we  are  not,  and  for  this  purpose  I 
know  none  better  than  that  here  contended  for.  As 
Protestants,  we  believe  that  Romanism  is .  at  variance 
with  the  Gospel,  and  therefore  we  style  ourselves  Gos- 
pel, that  is,  Evangelical  Catholics.  This  states  our  posi- 
tion both  as  Protestants  and  members  of  the  Catholic 
Church. 

"  The  Catholic  Church  is  the  universal  society  of  the 
brethren  in  Christ  which  has  existed  from  the  begin- 
ning, when  the  Son  of  God  was  made  flesh,  and  men 
by  believing  in  him  became  the  sons  of  God;  all  who 
believe  in  him  and  are  baptized  constitute  this  broth- 
erhood. I  do  not  say  all  who  truly  believe  in  him, 
because  they  can  not  be  distinguished  from  others  who 
do  not  truly  believe,  and  I  say  who  are  baptized, 
because  baptism  is  the  sacrament  of  adoption,  where- 
in God  declares  himself  their  Father,  and  they  profess 
themselves  to  be  his  children,  and  consequently  broth- 
ers in  Christ.  Thus,  all  the  baptized  are  to  be  regarded 
as  members  of  the  Catholic  Church,  so  long  as  they  do 
not  renounce  their  baptism,  either  by  an  avowed  re- 
jection of  the  Catholic  faith,  or  an  openly  bad  life, 
which  is  virtually  such  a  rejection. 

"  What  is  the  Catholic  Faith  ?  I  answer,  that  which 
has  been  universally  required  to  be  believed,  in  order 
to  salvation.  We  find  it  in  its  simplest  form  in  several 


244  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG, 

places  in  the  New  Testament.  Thus,  it  is  that  which 
the  Ethiopian  emmch  professed,  and  on  which  Philip 
baptized  him:  'I  BELIEVE  THAT  JESUS  CHRIST  is  THE  SON 
OF  GOD.'  This  was  all  the  creed  demanded  of  him. 
The  same  was  the  creed  which  St.  Paul  enjoined  on 
the  jailor  when  he  baptized  him :  *  Believe  on  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  and  thou  shalt  be  saved.'  This  was  the 
creed  of  Martha  when,  amid  her  grief,  she  exclaimed:  'I 
believe  that  thou  art  the  Christ  which  should  come  into 
the  world.'  This  was  the  confession  which  satisfied  our 
Lord,  when  Peter  said:  'I  believe  that  thou  are  the 
Christ,  the  Son  of  the  living  God,'  and  so  satisfied  him 
that  he  declared  upon  that  confession  he  would  build 
his  church.  'This  is  his  commandment,'  says  St.  John, 
'that  we  should  believe  on  the  name  of  his  Son  Je- 
sus Christ.'  And  again:  'Who  is  he  that  overcometh 
the  world,  but  he  that  believeth  that  Jesus  is  the  Son 
of  God?'  From  all  that  appears,  this  short  and  sum- 
mary confession  was  the  whole,  on  the  score  of  belief, 
of  what  was  required  of  the  first  converts  in  order  to 
their  baptism.  The  apostles  proclaimed  Jesus  of  Naz- 
areth the  Son  of  God — the  hearers  believed,  and  were 
baptized.  Their  belief,  expressed  in  so  few  words,  im- 
plied indeed,  immediately  and  directly  a  great  deal, 
but  nothing  more  was  explicitly  declared.  The  creed 
of  the  eunuch,  4I  believe  that  Jesus  Christ  is  the 
Son  of  God,'  was  the  original  symbol  of  the  Catholic 
Faith.  After  the  age  of  the  apostles,  and  when  the 
life  of  our  Lord  on  earth  became  matter  of  history, 
this  brief  formula  was  expressed  more  at  length  in 


EVANGELICAL    CATHOLICISM.  245 

that  primitive  and  extremely  ancient  document — so 
ancient,  that  it  has  ever  been  known  as  the  Apostles' 
Creed.  This,  besides  the  acknowledgment  of  God  the 
Father  and  God  the  Holy  Ghost,  is  for  the  most  part  a 
short  history  of  Jesus,  from  his  incarnation  to  his  ascen- 
sion into  heaven,  thence  to  come  again  to  judge  both 
the  quick  and  the  dead;  so  that,  in  fact,  it  is  mainly 
the  original  formula  drawn  out  in  historical  detail. 
This  served  the  church  for  the  first  three  centuries. 
All  the  generations  of  men  and  women  that  were 
enrolled  .among  her  members  made  only  this  summary 
profession.  That  which  was  the  Catholic  Faith  then, 
must  be  the  Catholic  Faith  now;  and  that  which  was 
a  sufficient  expression  of  it  then,  is  a  sufficient  expres- 
sion of  it  now.  Such,  certainly,  is  the  judgment  of  our 
own  branch  of  the  church  in  the  matter.  She  requires 
nothing,  either  of  the  adult  or  the  sponsor  for  the  in- 
fant, but  a  belief  in  *  the  Articles  of  the  Christian  Faith 
as  contained  in  the  Apostles'  Creed.'  She  inserts  no 
other  creed  in  her  catechism;  and  when  she  asks  of 
the  catechumen  what  he  chiefly  learned  from  it,  he 
is  instructed  to  proceed  with  no  deductions  or  infer- 
ences from  it,  or  at  least  only  such  as  are  immediate 
and  obvious.  ...  This  is  eminently  the  Catholic 
creed.  Whoever  holds  it,  holds  all  that  the  church 
in  all  ages  has  required  to  be  believed  in  order  to 
salvation.  Of  course,  I  am  not  speaking  of  what  we 
are  required  to  do,  nor  of  the  sacraments,  ministry,  or 
worship  of  the  church,  but  simply  of  the  FAITH.  The 
Credenda,  and  that  by  common  consent,  and  the  em- 


246  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

phatic  practice  of  our  own  church  in  particular,  is  the 
Apostles'  Creed. 

"'But  this  brief  document,'  you  will  remind  me,  'is 
a  very  comprehensive  and  profound  one.  It  is  a  fund 
of  truth,  vast,  rich,  and  deep.  In  abiding  by  its  arti- 
cles, we  implicitly  receive  all  that  is  contained  in  them, 
and  what  follows  from  them.  We  do  not  take  the 
several  articles  as  so  many  barren  propositions.'  Un- 
questionably, we  are  bound  to  receive  all  that  follows 
from  the  Creed  by  fair  deduction ;  that  is,  provided  we 
see  it  to  be  such  deduction.  If  we  do  not  thus  see  it, 
we  are  not  bound  to  receive  it.  Many,  the  great  ma- 
jority of  deductions  from  the  Creed  are  so  evident,  that 
we  are  compelled  to  admit  them  as  of  equal  authority 
with  the  Creed  itself.  Others  are  not  so.  A  propo- 
sition asserted  to  flow  necessarily  from  one  of  the 
original  articles  may  seem  demonstrable  to  one  man 
and  not  to  another.  Such  propositions  every  one  is 
at  liberty  to  examine  by  the  light  of  reason  and  Holy 
Writ,  and  accept  or  refuse  them  accordingly.  A  man 
is  not  unsound  in  the  faith  as  long  as  he  stands  on  the 
apostolical  basis,  however  he  may  regard  some  of  the 
superstructures  that  are  raised  upon  it.  He  is  not  to 
be  set  down  for  a  heretic,  as  long  as  he  honestly  ad- 
heres to  the  old  Catholic  symbol,  although  he  may  deny 
alleged  inferences  from  it,  and  although,  moreover, 
these  inferences  be  maintained  as  part  and  parcel  of 
the  faith  by  a  large  portion  of  the  church,  perchance 
by  the  whole  branch  of  the  church  to  which  he  belongs. 
This  is  his  Christian  liberty — the  liberty  secured  to  him 


EVANGELICAL    CATHOLICISM.  247 

at  his  baptism,  which  he  received  on  condition  of  his 
believing  the  Apostles'  Creed.  As  long  as  he  honestly 
adheres  to  that,  he  has  not  apostatized  from  his  bap- 
tismal faith,  and  if  not  an  apostate  from  that  faith,  he 
is  not  a  heretic. 

"Upon  the  groundwork  of  the  Creed,  or  upon  a 
groundwork  added  to  it,  drawn  from  Scripture,  men 
have  reared  the  numberless  and  multiform  theological 
systems  which  divide  the  Christian  world.  The  advo- 
cates of  each,  confident  that  they  reason  conclusively 
from  the  fundamental  premises,  earnestly  contend  for  it 
as  for  'the  faith  once  delivered  to  the  saints.'  Each 
stands  up  for  his  own  articles,  formularies,  or  dogmas, 
as  valiantly  as  he  stands  up  for  the  Creed,  nay,  more 
valiantly,  since,  in  striving  for  these,  he  believes  he  is 
most  successfully  striving  for  that,  which  often  is  lost 
sight  of  in  the  zeal  employed  upon  the  means  for  its 
preservation.  Hence  come  the  distraction  and  discord 
of  Christendom.  Hence  there  are  as  many  orthodoxies 
as  there  are  branches,  divisions,  and  schisms  in  the 
church.  Hence  there  are  as  many  voices  of  the  truth 
— if  so  be  that  truth  can  speak  with  contradictory  voices 
— as  there  were  tongues  in  the  Corinthian  Church, 
where  each  had  a  language  of  his  own.  Hence  in  our 
respective  pulpits  we  preach  from  our  books  of  theology, 
according  to  our  traditionary  formulas,  our  conventional 
modes  of  faith  or  doctrine,  every  herald  of  the  Gospel 
sounding  his  own  party  trumpet,  averring  that  it  alone 
gives  forth  the  note  of  truth.  Amid  this  noise  and  jar, 
oh  for  the  voice  of  the  glorious  old  Creed  once  more, 


248  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

in  its  own  pure  and  solemn  strains  rising  above  our 
discords,  and  rallying  men  to  the  original  common 
ground  where  the  church  once  stood  at  unity  with 
herself,  and  where,  if  her  unity  is  ever  to  be  restored, 
she  must  stand  again !  We  shall  have  to  fall  back 
upon  the  primitive  ground,  and  use  our  strength  in 
defending  the  common  territory,  instead  of  expending 
it  all  upon  the  separate  fabrics  there  erected.  We 
Protestants  have  need  to*  come  to  a  better  understand- 
ing, and  to  look  about  for  a  platform  broad  enough 
for  us  to  stand  together  upon,  and  to  make  common 
cause  against  the  enemy,  which,  from  opposite  quar- 
ters, is  coming  in  like  a  flood;  and  what  can  that  be 
but  the  Kock-Confession  on  which  Christ  hath  built 
his  Church.  .  .  ." 

"The  Evangelical  Catholic"  wrote  Dr.  Harwood,  who, 
at  Dr.  Muhleiiberg's  solicitation,  became  his  assistant 
in  the  editorship  of  the  paper,  "was  a  genuine  surprise, 
and  the  surprise  culminated  when  it  was  discovered 
that  he  had  no  doctrinal  affiliation  with  the  party  to 
which  it  had  been  assumed  that  he  belonged.  It  was 
found  that  he  was  thoroughly  Protestant,  both  in  his 
beliefs  and  his  sympathies.  Catholic  he  claimed  to  be, 
because  he  held  to  the  historic  church,  with  its  creed, 
and  sacraments,  and  ministry,  and  type  of  worship; 
Evangelical,  because  the  Scriptures  were  the  sole  ulti- 
mate rule  of  faith  and  practice.  He  advocated  great 
freedom  of  thought  within  the  faith  of  Christ.  This 
was  the  position  he  laid  down,  and  upon  which  he 
stood  before  the  church  and  country.  Standing  upon 


EARLY  LONGINGS   FOR    CATHOLIC   UNITY.        249 

it  resolutely,  lie  found,  and  others  found  also,  that  he 
thenceforth,  surely,  and  without  any  qualification,  be- 
gan to  acquire  the  confidence  of  the  community,  and 
became  a  recognized  power  in  New  York  and  through- 
out the  church." 

No  change  took  place  in  the  manner  or  character 
of  his  church  services  or  sermons  with  the  publica- 
tion of  the  Evangelical  Catholic.  Gradually,  perhaps, 
there  was  a  more  thorough  clearing  away  of  any  ves- 
tige of  "mere  ecclesiasticism  "  that  may  have  lingered 
with  him  from  his  brief  contact  with  Oxford. 

He  may  have  felt  more  sure  of  his  ground,  and  so 
have  preached,  as  some  thought,  "with  more  power 
than  ever  before."  But  there  was  nothing  really  new 
to  himself  in  that  which  took  others  by  surprise. 

As  far  back  as  the  year  1835,  in  the  midst  of  his 
school  labors,  he  had  written,  and  the  following  year 
published,  his  "Hints  on  Catholic  Union."*  From  be- 
ginning to  end  of  his  ministry,  his  heart  was  full  of 
a  yearning  desire  for  the  union,  in  some  form,  of  the 
Protestant  bodies  of  Christendom.  He  was  all  along 
an  "Evangelical  Catholic,"  though  not  until  now  did 
he  invest  his  principles  with  that  pertinent  name.  His 
earliest  explicit  utterance  in  print  was  the  above 
named  treatise  in  1835,  in  undertaking  which  he  at 
first  only  designed  to  write  a  brief  preface  to  some 
extracts  from  Bishop  Jeremy  Taylor's  "Liberty  of 
Prophesying,"  but  the  subject  opened  up  to  him  as  he 

*  See  Ev.  Oath.  Papers,  First  Series. 


250  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

studied  it,  and  the  preface  became  a  book.  The  key- 
note of  the  essay  is  found  in  the  sacred  opening  words 
from  our  Lord's  Sacerdotal  Prayer:  "That  they  all 
may  be  one,  as  thou  Father  art  in  me  and  I  in  thee, 
that  they  also  may  be  one  in  us;  that  the  world  may 
believe  that  thou  hast  sent  me."  "That  they  all  may 
be  one" — the  great  company  of  believers  throughout 
the  world, — the  church,  being,  as  Hooker  says,  "like 
the  sea — one  everywhere,  though  it  have  many  pre- 
cincts and  many  names." 

A  larger  experience  showed  him  that  the  particular 
methods  of  union  suggested  in  the  little  work  referred 
to,  needed  reconsideration,  but  its  theory  throughout 
is  what  he  afterwards  so  repeatedly  and  eloquently 
urged :  namely,  Evangelical  Catholicism ;  and  the  spirit 
of  the  treatise  of  eighteen  years  before,  was  identical 
with  that  of  the  present  paper.  The  able  columns  of 
the  latter,  in  connection  with  higher  and  more  thought- 
ful articles,  brought  the  touchstone  of  its  principles  to 
bear,  in  a  lighter  way,  on  men  and  things  generally, 
on  passing  public  events,  and  on  the  minutiae  of  do- 
mestic life.  Many  a  pithy  word  and  bright  little  les- 
son filled  up  spare  corners  of  the  sheet,  and  sometimes 
a  reader  would  recognize  in  the  pleasantly  put  item 
a  suggestion  furnished  by  himself.  Thus:  A  fond 
father  and  mother,  on  one  of  Dr.  Muhlenberg's  pas- 
toral visits,  exhibited  the  accomplishments  of  their 
baby  boy.  They  were  both  amused  and  instructed  to 
read  in  the  next  issue  of  the  Evangelical  Catholic  the 
following:  '"Show  how  big  you  are.'  And  the  dear 


"SHOW  HOW  BIG    YOU  ARE."  251 

little  creature,  long  before  it  can  speak,  lifts  its  tiny 
hands  to  its  head — ' So  big.'  'Now,  again,  show  how 
big  you  are.'  The  darling  baby,  how  well  it  under- 
stands already.  What  wonder  that  all  our  lives  long 
we  are  showing  how  big  we  are,  when  it  is  one  of  the 
first  lessons  we  learn  in  infancy." 

Incidentally,  the  paper  was  serviceable  to  St.  Luke's 
Hospital  and  the  Sisterhood,  by  keeping  both  institu- 
tions in  view,  and  in  the  latter  case,  gradually  allay- 
ing apprehensions  of  a  secret  nunnery  and  the  like,  by 
promoting  familiarity  with  the  true  genius  of  the  so- 
ciety. Much  prudence  had  to  be  exercised,  however, 
in  this  regard,  and  several  communications  appeared 
in  the  columns  of  the  paper  on  the  questions,  pro  and 
cow,  of  the  service  of  "Protestant  nuns"  in  the  pro- 
jected church  hospital.  In  the  mind  of  the  founder  of 
both  institutions,  there  was  never  any  doubt  of  the 
result;  but  with  his  usual  wisdom  and  prudence,  he 
gave  fair  play  to  differing  opinions  on  the  subject. 

From  the  beginning  of  the  church,  the  first  Sister, 
with  an  associate  or  two,  informally  connected  with 
her,  had  done  true  Sisters'  work  in  the  parish.  In 
1852.  the  community  was  regularly  organized  as  the 
Sisterhood  of  the  Holy  Communion.  Principles  of  as- 
sociation were  formulated,  and  a  body  of  tried  rules 
adopted. 

A  pamphlet,  written  by  the  first  Sister,  and  edited 
by  Dr.  Muhlenberg,  was  at  the  same  time  put  in  circu- 
lation, in  the  hope  of  disarming  fears,  and  of  making 
the  association  better  understood.  A  revised  edition 


252  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

of  that  little  work,  republished  at  the  desire  of  one  of 
the  bishops  *  of  the  church,  was  afterwards  more  widely 
disseminated,  and  is  reputed  to  have  done  its  part 
in  establishing  confidence  in  such  associations.  In 
Dr.  Muhlenberg's  Introduction  to  this  work,  entitled 
"  Thoughts  on  Evangelical  Sisterhoods,"  f  are  some 
golden  words  which  the  popularity  and  present  ten- 
dency of  such  communities  amongst  us  make  it  desir- 
able to  preserve ;  and  this  the  more,  it  will  be  conceded, 
in  that  he  was  the  first  to  introduce  Sisterhoods  in  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church.  The  following  extracts 
are  from  the  Introduction  alluded  to: 

"At  once,  then,  let  it  be  said,  that  while  we  do  not 
underrate  the  good  that  is  done  by  such  orders  as  the 
Sisters  of  Charity  in  the  Roman  Communion,  we  desire 
to  attempt  no  copying  of  them  among  ourselves.  They 
are  essentially  Roman.  To  say  nothing  of  their  cor- 
ruptions and  errors  of  faith,  their  perpetual  vows,  their 
constrained  celibacy,  their  unreserved  submission  to 
ecclesiastical  rule,  their  subjection  of  the  conscience  to 
priestly  guidance,  their  onerous  rounds  of  ceremonies 
and  devotions,  the  whole  tenor  of  their  exterior  relig- 
ious life  make  them  a  homogeneous  part  of  the  sys- 
tem of  that  Church.  They  could  exist  nowhere  else. 
There  can  be  no  imitations  of  them  in  a  Protestant 
Church.} 

*  Bishop  Alonzo  Potter,  of  Pennsylvania, 
f  T.  Whittaker,  No.  2  Bible  House. 

\  "Some  of  the  Anglican  Sisterhoods  strike  us  as  imitations.  They 
are  not  genuine  productions  of  Evangelical  Charity  in  its  Protestant 


EVANGELICAL   SISTERHOODS.  253 

"A  Sisterhood  (the  appellation  is  too  good  to  be  giv- 
en up),  as  here  contended  for,  is  a  very  simple  thing. 
It  is  a  community  of  Christian  women,  devoted  to 
works  of  charity,  as  the  service  of  their  lives,  or  of  a 
certain  portion  of  them.  For  the  most  part,  they  form 
a  household  of  themselves ;  that  being  necessary  in  or- 
der to  their  mutual  sympathy  and  encouragement,  and 
to  their  greater  unity  and  efficiency  in  action.  They 
are  held  together  by  identity  of  purpose,  and  accord- 
ance of  will  and  feeling.  Their  one  bond  of  union 
is  simply  the  'Love  of  Christ  constraining  them.'  As 
long  as  that  continues  to  be  a  constraining  motive,  cor- 
dially uniting  the  members,  their  society  will  last.  In 
proportion  as  that  languishes  and  fails,  it  will  decline 
and  dissolve  of  its  own  accord.  In  this  respect,  as  well 
as  in  so  many  others,  it  differs  from  any  of  the  religious 
orders  of  the  Roman  Church.  To  whatever  extent  these 
latter  are  actuated  by  the  genuine  life  of  true  charity, 
yet  they  have  all  another  and  independent  life,  derived 
from  the  system  of  which  they  are  a  component  part, 
and  which  may  be  called  their  ecclesiastical  life.  Hence 
they  may  continue  to  exist,  in  virtue  of  the  latter,  while 
the  former  is  no  more.  Though  their  proper  vitality  be 
gone,  the  force  of  the  church  still  acts  upon  them,  im- 
pelling them  on  and  keeping  them  in  action.  They 
may  be  in  a  state  of  moral  apostasy — personal  piety  and 
virtue  may  be  rare,  or  be  entirely  extinct  in  them; 

simplicity.  They  have  a  foreign  garb,  indicative  of  a  foreign  taste. 
Pastor  Fleidner's  deaconesses  are  more  to  our  mind."  Original  note, 
1852. 


254  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

abuses  and  corruptions  may  be  multiplying,  neverthe- 
less they  live  and  prosper  in  their  own  way.  They 
have  lost  none  of  their  mere  ecclesiastical  vitality. 
They  retain  the  imparted  energy  of  "the  church." 
Protestantism  has  no  such  power.  That  belongs  to  a 
consolidated  church.  Protestantism  possesses  not  the 
art  of  keeping  dead  things  alive.  Orders  of  charity, 
should  they  come  to  pass  among  us,  will  be  such  really 
and  actually  as  long  as  they  last.  They  may  not  last 
long,  but  they  will  be  what  they  profess  to  be  as  long 
as  they  do  last.  They  will  not  survive  their  true  and 
proper  existence;  they  will  derive  no  after  being,  no 
perfunctory  and  mechanical  life  from  the  church.  As 
the  spontaneous  product  of  charity,  they  will  thrive 
just  as  the  spirit  of  charity  continues  to  be  their 
indwelling  spirit.  Their  corruption  will  lead  to  their 
dissolution.  Having  only  one  life,  when  they  are 
dead,  they  will  die.  Nothing  then,  is  to  be  feared 
from  a  truly  Evangelical  Sisterhood.  When  it  degen- 
erates it  will  come  to  an  end.  It  depends  for  its 
continuance  wholly  upon  the  continuance  of  the  zeal 
which  called  it  into  being.  The  uniting  principle 
among  its  members,  is  their  common  affection  for  the 
object  which  has  brought  them  together,  and  which, 
by  giving  intenseness  to  their  mutual  affection  as  Sis- 
ters in  Christ,  tends  to  strengthen  and  confirm  their 
social  existence ;  but  there  is  no  constraint  from  with- 
out on  the  part  of  the  church,  not  any  from  within  in 
the  form  of  religious  vows,  or  promises  to  one  another 
to  insure  their  perpetuity  as  a  body,  or  to  interfere  with 


NOT  ECCLESIASTICAL    ORGANIZATIONS.  255 

their  freedom  of  conscience  as  individuals.  While  one 
in  feeling  and  action,  each  yet  '  stands  fast  in  the 
liberty  wherewith  Christ  has  made  us  free.'  Not  that 
they  hold  themselves  ever  ready  to  adjourn,  or  that 
they  would  be  satisfied  with  an  ephemeral  existence. 
Each  and  all  feel  that  they  have  entered  upon  a  sacred 
service,  which  they  are  at  liberty  to  quit,  only  at  the 
demand  of  duty  elsewhere.  They  naturally  cherish 
their  union.  They  look  forward  to  its  permanence  in 
themselves,  and  their  successors,  who  may  be  called 
thereto.  How  it  may  be  they  do  not  know.  They  walk 
by  faith.  As  they  trust  their  society  has  come  to  pass 
in  the  gracious  ordering  of  God,  so  they  believe  it  will 
be  upheld  by  him,  as  long  as  he  has  work  for  them  to 
do,  and  it  pleases  him  to  give  them  grace  to  do  it. 
Handmaidens  of  the  Lord,  waiting  upon  his  good  pleas- 
ure, they  are  not  anxious  for  the  future,  content  to  leave 
it  in  his  hands." 

As  regarded  any  central  organization,  Dr.  Muhlen- 
berg  said :  "It  is  wholly  undesirable.  We  want  no 
such  combination,  no  wide-spread  of  charity,  under  one 
head,  or  church  control — neither,  for  my  part,  would  I 
have  these  associations  to  be  bodies  corporate  in  law,  or 
in  any  way  capable  of  holding  property  in  their  own 
right.  Should  they  have  dwelling-houses,  as  places  of 
retirement  when  disabled,  or  in  their  old  age,  these, 
with  moderate  endowments,  might  be  held  for  them  by 
trustees,  but  nothing  further.  As  simple  evangelical 
associations,  not  ecclesiastical  organizations,  the  less 
they  have  of  the  means  of  worldly  influence  the  better. 


256  WILL f AM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

Let  this  be  understood,  and  any  fears  or  jealousies  of  a 
woman-power  in  the  church,  which,  in  fact,  would  be 
a  priestly  power,  will  have  110  place.  The  dread  of 
convents,  abbesses,  lady-superiors,  and  every  thing  of 
that  sort,  will  vanish." 

In  the  constitution  of  the  Sisterhood  of  the  Holy 
Communion,  the  term  '  First '  heretofore  applied  to  the 
original  Sister,  as  first  in  the  order  of  time,  became 
the  authorized  title  of  the  head  or  principal  of  the 
association,  and  was  chosen  as  more  simple,  and  less- 
assuming,  than  others  now  in  vogue  for  the  directing 
Sister. 

St.  Luke's  Hospital  quietly  made  its  way  into  the 
hearts  of  Christian  people  generally,  from  the  date  of 
the  first  appeal  of  the  Board  of  Managers  for  one  hun- 
dred thousand  dollars.  The  contributions,  mainly  from 
the  rich,  but  occasionally  from  very  opposite  sources, 
came  in  encouragingly.  The  wealthy  gave  of  their 
abundance,  and  some  poor  people  of  their  penury.  A 
young  physician  consecrated  his  opening  practice  by 
sending  part  of  his  first  fee  to  Dr.  Muhlenberg,  for  St. 
Luke's;  and  a  testamentary  bequest  of  ten  thousand 
dollars,  from  Dr.  Wiley  of  the  United  States  navy,  was 
received  before  even  the  site  was  fully  determined 
upon.  Within  a  year,  the  proposed  amount  was  se- 
cured; but  the  last  five  thousand,  given  especially  to 
complete  the  hundred  thousand,  was  contributed  on 
condition  that  fifty  thousand  more  should  be  raised. 

It  took  proportionably  longer  to  get  this  additional 
amount,  and  conflicting  circumstances  in  connection 


THE   HOSPITAL    SITE.  257 

with  a  site  caused  considerable  delay.  Almost  from 
the  time  of  St.  Luke's  incorporation,  the  ground  on 
which  it  stands  was  regarded  as  well  adapted  for  the 
purpose,  and,  moreover,  very  desirable,  inasmuch  as  it 
could  be  obtained  without  an  outlay  of  money.  The 
corporation  of  the  city,  for  certain  considerations  on 
the  part  of  Trinity  Church,  had  made  a  grant  to  the 
Church  of  St.  George  the  Martyr,  of  which  the  Rev. 
Moses  Marcus  was  rector,  of  twenty-four  lots  of  ground, 
on  the  condition  that  there  should  be  erected  thereon  a 
hospital  and  free  chapel  for  British  emigrants,  within 
three  years  from  the  date  of  the  grant.  That  condition 
not  having  been  met,  and  the  property  in  consequence 
likely  to  revert  to  the  city,  the  Managers  of  St.  Luke's 
exerted  themselves  with  the  city  corporation,  and  ob- 
tained an  extension  of  another  three  years.  They  then 
entered  into  negotiations  with  the  Church  of  St.  George 
the  Martyr,  which  issued  in  the  release  of  the  ground 
to  the  corporation  of  St.  Luke's,  on  certain  conditions 
in  regard  to  the  support  of  patients,  satisfactory  to 
both  parties.  *  But  the  land  held  by  the  Church  of 
St.  George  the  Martyr  was  insufficient  in  extent,  for 
such  a  hospital  as  was  now  proposed,  and  the  eligibil- 
ity of  other  sites  in  different  quarters  of  the  city  was 
actively  discussed. 

Dr.  Muhlenberg  fell  in  with  the  action  of  the  Board 
in  this  particular,  though  without  any  idea  of  the  insti- 
tution standing  anywhere  else  than  where  it  does.  For, 

*  "  Sketch  of  Origin  and  Progress  of  St.  Luke's  Hospital."  W.  A.  M. 
1859. 

17 


258  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

while  these  questions  were  pending,  after  a  manner  of 
his  own,  he  took  possession  of  the  ground.  It  was 
thus:  One  afternoon  in  the  spring  of  1853,  without  any 
explanation  of  his  purpose,  he  proposed  to  some  friends 
much  interested  in  the  hospital  project,  to  take  a  drive 
up  town.  Stopping  at  the  corner  of  Fifty -fourth  Street 
and  Fifth  Avenue,  the  party  alighted,  and  followed  to 
the  middle  of  the  present  Hospital  site,  which  then 
presented  only  a  dreary,  weed-covered  area,  with  two 
gaunt,  weather-beaten  oak-trees  looming  up  to  the  sky. 
He  took  his  companions  entirely  by  surprise,  when, 
after  a  moment  of  silence,  he  uncovered  his  head,  and 
saying,  "Now  we  will  consecrate  this  place  for  St. 
Luke's  Hospital,"  breathed  a  fervent  prayer  for  the 
divine  blessing  upon  what  he  knew,  with  the  "intu- 
ition that  was  foresight,''  would  come  to  pass  there  and 
nowhere  else. 

Eventually,  the  Managers  extended  this  site  to  suit 
their  object,  by  the  purchase  of  eight  lots,  adjoining 
the  St.  George  Martyr  grant,  to  the  west ;  making  thir- 
ty-two city  lots  the  entire  extent  of  the  ground.  The 
matter  of  locality  thus  settled,  there  would  yet  elapse 
considerable  time  before  any  building  was  in  readiness, 
and  Dr.  Muhlenberg  and  his  Sister  workers  could  not 
wait  the  tardy  establishment  of  St.  Luke's,  to  make 
some  provision  for  the  sick,  now  constantly  thrust 
upon  their  notice, — poor,  pious,  incurable  sufferers, 
with  not  so  much  as  a  decent  attic  or  basement  to 
die  in.  Three  such,  in  quick  succession,  claimed  suc- 
cor. "What  can  we  do?"  he  anxiously  asked  the 


ST.    LUKE'S   IN  A    REAR-TENEMENT.  259 

Sisters.  There  was  no  vacant  room  in  the  house 
they  occupied,  though  they  had  now  and  again  shel- 
tered a  sick  person  there.  "We  must  hire  a  place  as 
near  us  as  we  can,  and  take  them  in,"  was  the  con- 
clusion; to  which  Dr.  Muhlenberg  joyfully  assented. 
He  always  obtained  money  for  the  Sisters'  charities, 
so  they  had  not  any  disheartening  question  of  means 
to  embarrass  them,  and  a  little  hospital  was  forth- 
with improvised  in  the  rear-tenement  of  an  alley,  very 
near  their  own  dwelling.  Two  or  three  rooms  of  a 
small  house  were  all  that  was  available,  and  here,  in 
1853,  St.  Luke's  was  virtually  begun.  The  Sisters  pre- 
pared the  food  of  these  poor  patients  in  their  own 
kitchen,  and  took  turns  in  ministering  personally  to 
them.  They  did  not  at  first  escape  a  little  persecution 
from  their  fellow-tenants  of  the  alley,  who  threatened 
to  prosecute  them  for  introducing  a  "  catching  disease," 
and  had  to  be  indebted  to  a  poor  good  woman,  whom 
they  had  taken  care  of,  for  mediating  with  her  rough 
neighbors  in  their  behalf.  So  much  for  the  embryo  St. 
Luke's,  as  it  really  proved,  for  there  was  110  break  in 
the  direct  succession  of  patients.  These  in  the  rear- 
tenement  having  been  later  transferred  to  the  Infirmary 
of  the  Church  of  the  Holy  Communion,  and  that  insti- 
tution in  due  time  supplying  the  first  patients  of  the 
full-grown  Hospital. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 
'853-1855- 

Memorial  to  the  House  of  Bishops. — Papers  on  the  Memorial. — A  Proper 
Radicalism. — Dr.  Harwood  on  Origin  of  Memorial. — Reminiscences  by 
Dr.  E.  A.  Washburn. — Not  Daunted  by  Unsuccess. — Ceaseless  Efforts 
for  Unity. — A  Favor  to  the  Sisterhood. — Infirmary  of  Church  of  the 
Holy  Communion. — Happy  Service. — Quarantined. — The  Pastor's  Vis- 
its.— Ideal  of  a  Sister  of  Charity. — Corner-Stone  of  St.  Luke's  Hospital 
Laid. — Location. — General  Plan  of  Building. — A  Street  Incident.— Bear- 
ing Injuries. 

THE  Evangelical  Catholic  terminated  its  course  within 
a  little  over  two  years.  It  had  fulfilled  its  mission, 
and  then  gave  place  to,  or  rather  culminated  in,  what 
is  called  "the  Memorial  Movement." 

This  Memorial,  originating  with  Dr.  Muhlenberg, 
was  a  high  and  noble  venture  for  the  emancipation  of 
the  church  as  to  all  that  holds  her  back  from  the  full 
exercise  of  her  great  mission  to  mankind.  It  was  pre- 
sented to  the  House  of  Bishops,  as  a  council  of  the  Prot- 
estant Episcopate,  by  Dr.  Muhlenberg,  and  others  of 
the  clergy  in  sympathy  with  him.  Its  central  thought 
was  the  same  as  that,  many  years  back,  of  "  Hints  on 
Catholic  Union,"  viz.,  the  prayer  of  our  Divine  Lord: 
"That  they  all  may  be  one,  as  thou  Father  art  in  me, 
and  I  in  thee,  that  they  may  be  one  in  us."  The  move- 
ment had  a  twofold  bearing:  "one,  on  the  Episcopal 


RADICALISM.  261 

Church,  as  such;  the  other,  which  was  its  ultimate 
scope,  on  that  church  considered  in  its  essential  ele- 
ments, as  the  norm  of  a  broader  and  more  Catholic 
system." 

Both  as  to  its  formative  idea,  and  its  widest  develop- 
ment, the  Memorial  was  powerfully  and  exhaustively 
set  forth  by  Dr.  Muhlenberg,  in  a  succession  of  pam- 
phlets which  collectively  make  the  chief  bulk  of  an 
octavo  volume  of  some  five  hundred  pages.  Apart 
from  their  direct  object,  these  papers  are  worth  pe- 
rusal for  their  beauty  and  fervor  of  utterance,  their 
luminous  argument,  their  pertinent  and  instructive 
illustrations,  and,  together  with  their  boldness,  the  ab- 
sence of  any  acrimony,  and  the  gentle  and  loving  spirit, 
which,  like  a  golden  cord  running  through  them,  binds 
all  together  as  a  pure  offering  on  the  sacred  altar  of 
Christian  Unity. 

The  following,  from  one  of  those  expository  pam- 
phlets, rings  out  the  essential  argument  of  the  whole. 
"  Radicalism  "  some  had  called  it.  "  Radicalism  it  is — 
literally,"  said  Dr.  Muhlenberg,  "  and  of  the  right  kind. 
It  is  going  to  the  roots  of  things ;  and  there  verily  do 
we  need  to  go.  Times  do  come  when  men  must  throw 
themselves  boldly  on  first  principles,  when  they  must 
fearlessly  carry  them  out  and  let  them  have  their  issues, 
despite  the  forms  and  conventionalities  that  have  been 
planted  about  them,  and  have  been  fastened  upon  them, 
albeit  for  their  protection.  For  such  radicalism  the 
time  has  come,  such  going  to  the  root  of  the  matter — 
aye,  even  to  the  'RooT  AND  OFFSPRING  OF  DAVID.'  It  is 


262  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

time  that  we  looked  to  our  planting  there.  It  is  time 
we  turned  to  the  Foundation,  to  the  'Corner-stone  in 
Zion,  Elect  and  Precious,'  and  called  men  to  rally  there. 
Nowhere  else  will  they  rally.  The  time  has  gone  by  for 
platforms  and  systems  to  be  rallying  ground.  Change 
is  at  wrork  on  every  side.  The  traditional,  the  heredi- 
tary, the  venerable  in  the  outworks  of  religion,  have 
lost  their  hold  on  the  age;  to  none  of  them,  however 
we  may  choose  to  bind  ourselves,  may  we  hope  to  bind 
others,  to  gather  force  for  withstanding  the  revolutions 
of  the  times.  If  the  Faith  itself  is  to  be  preserved 
'  whole  and  undefiled,'  nothing  remains  to  us,  but  to 
stand  firm  to  it,  to  see  it  distinctly,  to  turn  men's  eyes 
to  it,  over  and  above  all  the  accessories  and  appendages 
which  we  are  so  prone  to  confound  with  it,  and  on 
which  we  divide  our  strength.  ALLEGIANCE  TO  THE  LORD 
JESUS  CHRIST — this  is  the  watchword  now  to  be  heard 
above  all  the  signals  of  parties,  sects,  and  churches. 
This  alone  will  pierce  the  din  and  confusion  of  the 
times,  and  tell  on  hearts  scattered  abroad.  The  'Tem- 
ple of  the  Lord ' — '  the  Temple  of  the  Lord,'  has  long 
enough  been  heard  from  eveiy  petty  quarter  of  Chris- 
tendom. The  Lord  of  the  Temple,  the  Lord  of  the 
Temple,  must  now  be  the  cry  to  gather  the  people 
of  the  Lord,  to  do  the  work  of  the  Lord,  to  uprear 
in  its  living  majesty  the  Temple  of  the  Lord.  From 
whom  shall  the  summons  come,  clear,  unmingled  with 
any  other  note,  but  from  the  chief  ministers  of  the 
Lord  ?  By  whom,  if  not  by  them,  shall  it  be  sounded 
forth,  apart  from  the  noises  and  strifes  of  the  syna- 


THE    MEMORIAL.  263 

gogue.  Shall  the  synagogue  confine  their  voice?  Shall 
they  not  stand  in  the  highways  and  cry  aloud  ?  Shall 
they  not  be  prophets  ?  Is  not  now  the  word  to  them 
as  of  old — '  0  thou  that  tellest  good  tidings  to  Zion, 
get  thee  up  into  the  high  mountain ;  lift  up  thy  voice 
with  strength;  lift  it  up,  be  not  afraid;  say  unto  the 
cities  of  Judah,  Behold  your  God!'"* 

The  great  importance  of  the  movement  demands  the 
insertion  of  the  original  in  full. 

"THE   MEMORIAL. 

"To  the  Bishops  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  Council  assembled: 

'  RIGHT  REVEREND  FATHERS: — 

"The  undersigned,  presbyters  of  the  church  of  which 
you  have  the  oversight,  venture  to  approach  your  ven- 
erable body  with  an  expression  of  sentiment,  which 
their  estimate  of  your  office  in  relation  to  the  times 
does  not  permit  them  to  withhold.  In  so  doing,  they 
have  confidence  in  your  readiness  to  appreciate  their 
motives  and  their  aims.  The  actual  posture  of  our 
church  with  reference  to  the  great  moral  and  social 
necessities  of  the  day,  presents  to  the  mind  of  the 
undersigned  a  subject  of  grave  and  anxious  thought. 
Did  they  suppose  that  this  was  confined  to  themselves, 
they  would  not  feel  warranted  in  submitting  it  to  your 
attention ;  but  they  believe  it  to  be  participated  in  by 
many  of  their  brethren,  who  may  not  have  seen  the 

*  "Exposition  of  Memorial,"  Ev.   Calh.  Papers,  First  Series. 


WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

expediency  of  declaring  their  views,  or  at  least  a  ma- 
ture season  for  such  a  course. 

"The  divided  and  distracted  state  of  our  American 
Protestant  Christianity,  the  new  and  subtle  forms  of 
unbelief  adapting  themselves  with  fatal  success  to  the 
spirit  of  the  age,  the  consolidated  forces  of  Eomanism 
bearing  with  renewed  skill  and  activity  against  the 
Protestant  faith,  and  as  more  or  less  the  consequence 
of  these,  the  utter  ignorance  of  the  Gospel  among  so 
large  a  portion  of  the  lower  classes  of  our  population, 
making  a  heathen  world  in  our  midst,  are  among  the 
considerations  which  induce  your  Memorialists  to  pre- 
sent the  inquiry  whether  the  period  has  not  arrived  for 
the  adoption  of  measures,  to  meet  these  exigencies  of 
the  times,  more  comprehensive  than  any  yet  provided 
for  by  our  present  ecclesiastical  system :  in  other  words, 
whether  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  with  only 
her  present  canonical  means  and  appliances,  her  fixed 
and  invariable  modes  of  public  worship,  and  her  tradi- 
tional customs  and  usages,  is  competent  to  the  work  of 
preaching  and  dispensing  the  Gospel  to  all  sorts  and 
conditions  of  men,  and  so  adequate  to  do  the  work  of 
the  Lord  in  this  land  and  in  this  age  ?  This  question, 
your  petitioners,  for  their  own  part,  and  in  consonance 
with  many  thoughtful  minds  among  us,  believe  must 
be  answered  in  the  negative.  Their  Memorial  proceeds 
on  the  assumption  that  our  church,  confined  to  the  ex- 
ercise of  her  present  system,  is  not  sufficient  to  the 
great  purposes  above  mentioned — that  a  wider  door 
must  be  opened  for  admission  to  the  Gospel  ministry 


THE   MEMORIAL.  265 

than  that  through  which  her  candidates  for  holy  orders 
are  now  obliged  to  enter.  Besides  such  candidates 
among  her  own  members,  it  is  believed  that  men  can 
be  found  among  the  other  bodies  of  Christians  around 
us,  who  would  gladly  receive  ordination  at  your  hands, 
could  they  obtain  it  without  that  entire  surrender  which 
would  now  be  required  of  them,  of  all  the  liberty  in 
public  worship  to  which  they  have  been  accustomed — 
men  who  could  not  bring  themselves  to  conform  in  all 
particulars  to  our  prescriptions  and  customs,  but  yet 
sound  in  the  faith,  and  who,  having  the  gifts  of 
preachers  and  pastors,  would  be  able  ministers  of  the 
New  Testament. 

"With  deference  it  is  asked,  ought  such  an  acces- 
sion to  your  means,  in  executing  your  high  commis- 
sion, '  Go  ye  into  all  the  world  and  preach  the  Gospel  to 
every  creature,'  to  be  refused,  for  the  sake  of  conform- 
ity in  matters  recognized  in  the  Preface  to  the  Book 
of  Common  Prayer  as  unessentials  ?  Dare  we  pray  the 
Lord  of  the  harvest  to  send  forth  laborers  into  the 
harvest,  while  we  reject  all  laborers  but  those  of  one 
peculiar  type  ?  The  extension  of  orders  to  the  class  of 
men  contemplated  (with  whatever  safeguards,  not  in- 
fringing on  evangelical  freedom,  which  your  wisdom 
might  deem  expedient)  appears  to  your  petitioners  to 
be  a  subject  supremely  worthy  of  your  deliberations. 

"In  addition  to  the  prospect  of  the  immediate  good 
which  would  thus  be  opened,  an  important  step 
would  be  taken  towards  the  effecting  of  a  Church 
unity  in  the  Protestant  Christendom  of  our  land. 


266  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS   MUHLENBERG. 

To  become  a  central  bond  of  union  among  Chris- 
tians, who,  though  differing  in  name,  yet  hold  to 
the  one  Faith,  the  one  Lord,  and  the  one  Baptism, 
and  who  need  only  such  a  bond  to  be  drawn  together 
in  closer  and  more  primitive  fellowship,  is  here  be- 
lieved to  be  the  peculiar  province  and  high  privilege 
of  your  venerable  body  as  a  College  of  CATHOLIC  AND 
APOSTOLIC  BISHOPS  as  such. 

"This  leads  your  petitioners  to  declare  the  ultimate 
design  of  their  Memorial — which  is  to  submit  the  prac- 
ticability, under  your  auspices,  of  some  ecclesiastical 
system,  broader  and  more  comprehensive  than  that 
which  you  now  administer,  surrounding  and  including 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  as  it  now  is,  leaving 
that  church  untouched,  identical  with  that  church  in 
all  its  great  principles,  yet  providing  for  as  much  free- 
dom in  opinion,  discipline,  and  worship,  as  is  com- 
patible with  the  essential  faith  and  order  of  the  Gos- 
pel. To  define  and  act  upon  such  a  system,  it  is 
believed,  must  sooner  or  later  be  the  work  of  an 
American  Catholic  Episcopate. 

"In  justice  to  themselves  on  this  occasion,  your 
Memorialists  beg  leave  to  remark  that,  although  aware 
that  the  foregoing  views  are  not  confined  to  their  own 
small  number,  they  have  no  reason  to  suppose  that 
any  other  parties  contemplate  a  public  expression  of 
them,  like  the  present.  Having  therefore  undertaken 
it,  they  trust  that  they  have  not  laid  themselves  open 
to  the  charge  of  unwarranted  intrusion.  They  find 
their  warrant  in  the  prayer  now  offered  up  by  all  our 


THE    COMMISSION".  267 

congregations,  'That  the  comfortable  Gospel  of  Christ 
may  be  truly  preached,  truly  received,  and  truly  fol- 
lowed, in  all  places,  to  the  breaking  down  of  the  king- 
dom of  Sin,  Satan,  and  Death.' 

"Convinced  that,  for  the  attainment  of  these  blessed 
ends,  there  must  be  some  greater  concert  of  action 
among  Protestant  Christians  than  any  which  yet  ex- 
ists, and  believing  that  with  you,  Right  Reverend 
Fathers,  it  rests  to  take  the  first  measures  tending 
thereto,  your  petitioners  could  not  do  less  than  hum- 
bly submit  their  Memorial  to  such  consideration  as  in 
your  wisdom  you  may  see  fit  to  give  it.  Praying  that 
it  may  not  be  dismissed  without  reference  to  a  Com- 
mission, and  assuring  you,  Right  Reverend  Fathers,  of 
our  dutiful  veneration  and  esteem, 

"We  are,  Most  respectfully, 

"Your  Brethren  and  Servants  in  the  Gospel  of  Christ." 

Here  followed  the  signatures  of  a  number  of  presby- 
ters from  different  dioceses.  The  most  of  them  were 
appended  immediately  to  the  Memorial,  and  the  others 
to  a  postscript  in  which  the  assent  to  the  same  is 
qualified. 

The  prayer  of  the  Memorialists  was  granted  by  the 
appointment  of  the  Commission  which  they  asked.  It 
consisted  of  Bishops  Otey,  Doane,  Alonzo  Potter,  Bur- 
gess, Williams,  and  Wainwright. 

On  the  fly-leaf  of  the  Memorial,  preceding  the  docu- 
ment, was  the  following  from  the  Preface  to  the  Book  of 
Common  Prayer:  "  It  is  a  most  invaluable  part  of  that 


268  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

blessed  liberty  ivhereivith  Christ  hath  made  us  free  that 
in  his  worship,  different  forms  and  usages  may  with- 
out offence  be  allowed,  provided  the  substance  of  the 
faith  be  kept  entire;  and  that,  in  every  church,  what 
can  not  be  clearly  determined  to  belong  to  Doctrine 
must  be  referred  to  Discipline;  and  therefore,  by  com- 
mon consent  and  authority,  may  be  altered,  abridged, 
enlarged,  amended,  or  otherwise  disposed  of,  as  may 
seem  most  convenient  for  the  edification  of  the  peo- 
ple, 'according  to  the  various  exigencies  of  times  and 
occasions.' " 

The  Kev.  Dr.  Harwood,  mentioned  in  a  previous 
chapter  as  associated  with  Dr.  Muhlenberg  in  the  con- 
duct of  the  Evangelical  Catholic,  and  from  that  circum- 
stance more  intimately  acquainted  than  any  other  cler- 
gyman of  the  time  with  the  circumstances  under  which 
the  Memorial  originated,  thus  speaks,  both  of  the  be- 
ginning of  the  movement  and  of  what  it  achieved: 

"'What  do  we  mean?'  Dr.  Muhlenberg  would  ask. 
4 We  call  ourselves  Catholics?  What  are  we  doing 
for  the  people — for  our  brothers  and  sisters  who  never 
hear  the  Gospel  preached ;  who  will  not  come  near  our 
churches;  who  claim  that  the  church  is  only  for  the 
rich?.  .  .  .  Our  position  is  alike  absurd  and  un- 
christian.' Then,  moreover,  he  became  more  and  more 
painfully  impressed  with  the  isolation  of  the  Protes- 
tant Episcopal  Church,  and  he  felt  that  effort  should 
be  made  to  bring  the  Christians  of  this  land  into  some- 
thing like  fellowship,  on  the  basis  of  a  common  his- 
toric faith,  and  while  he  was  giving  much  thought 


DECLARATION   OF    THE   BISHOPS.  269 

and  time  to  the  subject,  he  suddenly,  with  that  impul- 
sive energy  which  comes  like  an  inspiration  to  a  man 
of  genius,  said  to  a  friend :  '  Let  us  prepare  a  Memorial 
upon  this  to  the  House  of  Bishops,  and  if  we  can  get 
no  one  to  sign  it,  we  will  sign  it  ourselves,  and  send 
it  in.'  This  is  the  origin  of  the  Memorial  sent  to 
the  House  of  Bishops  in  October  1853,  and  which  is 
known,  and  will  continue  to  be  known,  as  the  'Me- 
morial Movement.'  The  Memorial  was  prepared  and 
met  with  ready  approval.  Only  a  few  were  asked  to 
sign  it.  Scarcely  any  refusals  were  met  with,  and 
in  due  time  it  was  presented  to  the  House  of  Bishops 
where  it  was  received  with  many  expressions  of  gen- 
erous sympathy.  A  Committeee  of  the  Bishops  was 
appointed  to  consider  the  subject,  to  receive  other 
papers  that  might  be  presented,  and  to  report  at  the 
next  meeting  of  the  Convention.  .  .  .  The  subject 
awakened  immediate  and  general  interest.  It  was 
discussed  in  all  our  church  papers,  in  tracts  and 
essays,  which  were  read  before  the  Committee  of 
Bishops.  .  .  .  Dr.  Muhlenberg's  enthusiasm  never 
for  a  moment  abated;  and  when  the  argument  was 
exhausted,  we  awaited  with  some  impatience  the  meet- 
ing of  the  General  Committee  in  1856.  At  that  Con- 
vention the  House  of  Bishops  took  action:  and  their 
somewhat  famous  declaration  was  passed.  This  dec- 
laration expressed  the  opinion  of  the  bishops  to  this 
effect,  that  'the  order  of  Morning  Prayer,  the  Litany, 
and  the  Communion  Service,  being  three  separate 
offices,  may,  as  in  former  times,  be  used  separately, 


270  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS   MUHLENBERG. 

under  the  advice  of  the  bishop  of  the  diocese.'  *  That, 
on  special  occasions,  or  at  extraordinary  services  not 
otherwise  provided  for,  ministers  may,  at  their  dis- 
cretion, use  such  parts  of  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer, 
or  such  lesson  or  lessons  from  Holy  Scripture  as  shall, 
in  their  judgment,  tend  most  to  edification.' 

"  The  declaration  proceeded  to  give  authority  to  the 
bishops  to  prepare  services  suitable  for  congregations 
not  acquainted  with,  nor  accustomed  to,  the  use  of  the 
Book  of  Common  Prayer,  and  lastly  a  Commission  on 
Church  Unity  was  appointed,  'as  an  organ  of  commu- 
nication or  conference  with  such  Christian  bodies  or 
individuals  as  may  desire  it.'  All  authority  to  mature 
plans  of  union  with  other  'Christian  bodies'  was  at 
the  same  time  disavowed.  .  .  .  The  Commission  on 
Church  Unity  did  not  achieve  any  permanent  results; 
but  their  declaration  respecting  the  services,  in  due 
time,  acquired  the  force  of  law,  and  the  law  is  still 
upon  the  statute-book  of  the  church.  Dr.  Muhlenberg 
had  every  reason  to  congratulate  himself  and  to  be 
congratulated  upon  the  success  of  the  Memorial.  True, 
he  could  not  create  a  spirit  against  the  ecclesiastical 
spirit  of  our  time  and  church,  but  to  him  more,  far 
more,  than  to  any  one  man,  we  are  indebted  for  a  sense 
of  larger  liberty  in  the  use  of  the  Book  of  Common 
Prayer,  for  the  right  to  separate  the  separate  portions 
of  the  service,  and  for  the  readiness  with  which  special 
services  for  special  occasions  are  prepared  and  made 
use  of.  He  has  called  into  life  a  larger  liturgical  spirit 
and  a  more  generous  latitude  than  had  hitherto  been 


REMINISCENCES.  271 

known  in  our  day  and  country.  Results  are  rarely 
commensurate  with  hopes.  There  is  always  some  dis- 
appointment, some  regret  at  the  scanty  returns  of  gen- 
erous ventures.  The  appeal  to  the  bishops  and  to  the 
church,  made  by  Dr.  Muhlenberg  in  1853,  has  never 
been  forgotten,  however,  and  I  do  not  exaggerate  when 
I  say  that,  in  this  respect,  he  has  left  the  impress  of 
his  Christian  wisdom  upon  our  entire  church."* 

The  following  reminiscences,  and  reflections,  touch- 
ing the  Memorial,  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  E.  A.  Washburn, 
are  of  interest  here: 

"  It  was  then "  (at  the  date  of  the  Memorial),  Dr. 
W.  writes,  "  that  I  first  knew  him  personally,  and 
never  can  I  forget  the  impression  he  left  on  me.  He 
was  at  his  ripest  age,  the  glow  of  youth  had  passed 
into  a  large  wisdom,  but  there  was  child-like  faith, 
the  intuition  of  the  heart,  the  broken  torrent  of  elo- 
quent speech,  the  grand  Catholic  aspiration.  I  loved 
him  from  that  hour,  and  if  I  say  what  any  think  too 
enthusiastic,  I  can  only  reply  that  they  did  not  know 
him.  Every  conversation  on  the  Memorial  comes  back 
to  me.  It  was  his  conviction  that  our  church  needed 
to  act,  with  all  its  capabilities,  in  the  vast  growing 
field  of  missions,*  and  of  ministries  for  all  conditions 
of  men.  But,  more  than  this,  he  felt  that  the  best  way 
of  reconciliation  for  our  strifes  was  larger  room  for  real 
work.  We  were  now  in  the  temporary  lull  of  the 
Oxford  excitement,  when  its  greatest  leaders  had  re- 

*  From  an  address  before  an  Association  of  Clergymen  of  which 
Dr.  Muhlenberg  was,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  the  senior  member. 


272  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

treated  to  Eome,  before  the  next  Kitualistic  stage  had 
begun,  and  he  saw,  with  a  prophetic  eye,  what  others 
saw  too  late,  ten  years  afterwards.  High  and  Low 
parties  were  wasting  their  strength  in  quarrel  over 
rubrics.  The  strife  in  his  view  was  imbittered,  be- 
cause both  were  hemmed  within  the  small  arena  of 
an  inflexible  system. 

"  The  church  needed  unity  in  action,  it  must,  instead 
of  wrangling  over  theories  of  a  Catholic  past,  show  its 
catholicity  in  the  time  and  conditions  God  had  allotted 
it.  In  this  thought  he  planned  his  Memorial.  There 
was  no  loose  freedom  in  it,  but  a  thorough  grasp 
of  liturgical  principles  arid  a  wise  conservatism.  No 
changes  were  to  be  made  in  the  Prayer  Book,  no  conflict- 
ing theories  of  revision  were  to  scare  the  timid;  but  a 
liberty,  within  due  bounds,  was  to  be  allowed  in  the  use 
of  the  services.  The  clear,  admirable  papers  from  his 
own  hand  secured  the  sympathy  of  many  of  the  clergy, 
and  the  favorable  hearing  of  the  bishops.  But  the 
party  fears  on  either  hand,  the  jealousy  of  the  Episco- 
pal authority,  by  the  Lower  House,  and  the  great  power 
of  inertia  in  the  body,  strangled  a  plan  as  wise  as  it  was 

generous We  have  learned  the  worth  of 

our  conservatism  since.  I  dare  hazard  the  judgment 
that  had  the  Memorial  prevailed,  we  should  have  been 
spared  the  two  worst  misfortunes  since  befallen  us.  No 
legislation  can  rid  us  of  all  our  wrong-headed  parti- 
sans. But  the  conscientious  men  of  Eitualistic  type, 
instead  of  defying  law  for  chasubles  and  candles,  would 
have  thrown  their  devotion  into  noble  work;  and  the 


WHAT    WAS    GAINED.  273 

conscientious  men  who  have  only  added  another  Re- 
formed Episcopal  fragment  to  the  atoms  floating  in 
Christian  space,  would  have  remained  content  with 
just  freedom.  A  generation  hence  will  wonder  at 
the  policy  called  principle;  nay,  at  this  very  hour,  a 
large  part  of  the  freedom  which  the  Memorial  asked 
is  virtually  gained."* 

The  uiisuccess  of  the  Memorial  Movement,  as  to  its 
intrinsic  aim,  in  nowise  checked  Dr.  Muhlenberg's  en- 
deavors, in  other  ways,  towards  what  he  believed  to  be 
the  hope  of  the  church.  He  ceased  to  expect  much 
from  Episcopal  legislation,  yet  never  remitted  his  efforts 
for  Christian  unity.  Glancing,  for  the  coherence  of  the 
subject,  beyond  the  period  which  this  chapter  comprises, 
we  find  him  more  than  ten  years  later,  ardently  at- 
tempting the  formation,  among  some  brother  clergy- 
men, of  an  Evangelical  and  Catholic  Union;  and  be- 
fore this  he  had  purchased  some  lots  on  the  east  side 
of  the  city,  purposing  to  erect  there,  as  a  realization, 
on  his  own  part,  of  the  idea  of  Christian  fellowship,  a 
"  Church  of  the  Testimony  of  Jesus,"  with  a  St.  John's 
House  or  Inn  of  Charity  appended — a  thought  subser 
quently  abandoned  for  the  grander  embodiment  of  the 
same  principles  in  his  St.  Johnland. 

He  had  an 'intense  conviction  of  the  possibilities  of 
the  Episcopal  Church,  rightly  applied,  to  meet  the  de- 
mands of  the  times  as  to  Christian  freedom  and  fellow- 
ship; and  to  the  last  of  his  life,  "That  they  all  may  be 

*  From  a  sermon  after  Dr.  Muhlenberg's  decease. 
18 


274  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

one,"  was  his  watchword  and  aspiration,  the  spirit  of 
his  daily  actions,  and  his  theme  with  any  who  would 
listen  to  him,  whether  in  private  or  public.  If  he  never 
presented  literally,  a  second  Memorial  to  the  House  of 
Bishops,  he  did  virtually,  with  powerful  and  eloquent 
appeal,  to  the  church  at  large,  through  his  great  works 
of  heaven-born  charity,  and  the  pure  catholic  spirit 
with  which  he  infused  every  one  of  them. 

Once,  indeed,  and  with  the  expiring  forces  of  his  life 
— for  he  was  just  entering  his  seventy-seventh  year — he 
drafted,  and  with  his  own  hand  wrote  out  a  monograph 
on  the  Potentiality  of  the  English  Bishops,  of  which 
more  particular,  mention  will  be  found  later.  He  never 
rested  the  theme,  but  constantly  to  his  life's  end,  felt,  ut- 
tered, acted  it,  as  under  prophetic  inspiration.  Proph- 
ets are  greater  after  death  than  in  life,  being  rarely 
duly  esteemed  until  time  and  circumstances  begin  to 
verify  their  words;  and  it  may  be  that  it  is  for  the 
church  of  the  future  to  do  full  justice  to  the  Memorial 
and  its  author  in  relation  to  it. 

A  signal  favor  was  bestowed  upon  the  Sisterhood  of 
the  Holy  Communion,  in  the  year  of  the  Memorial 
(1853),  in  the  foundation  of  a  beautiful  house,  for  their 
especial  use,  the  gift  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  H.  Swift, — 
valued  and  well-beloved  members  of  the  congregation, 
— as  a  memorial  of  their  only  daughter,  Virginia.  She 
was  a  sweet  little  girl,  and  greatly  attached  to  the 
first  Sister,  in  whose  arms  she  died,  on  the  evening 
of  the  Epiphany,  1850.  This  house  is  of  fine  brown- 
stone,  rubied,  and  in  architecture  like  that  of  the 


THE    SSST£AS>    HOUSE.  275 

church,  which  it  joins  within  one  enclosure.  This, 
and  many  accompanying  kindnesses  on  the  part  of 
its  founders,  should  be  especially  remembered  to  the 
credit  of  their  faith  and  generosity,  at  a  time  when 
prejudice  was  strong  against  such  communities,  and 
the  very  name  of  "  Sister "  a  reproach. 

Early  the  following  year,  the  Sisters  took  possession 
of  their  home,  and  then  had  the  happiness  of  removing 
their  surviving  tenement-house  patients  into  the  house 
they  had  vacated,  which  adjoined  their  own,  and  was 
made  to  communicate  directly  with  it.  This  building 
had  been  suitably  equipped  for  the  accommodation  of 
eighteen  patients,  with  rooms  011  the  ground  floor  for 
the  Sisters'  School,  composed  of  the  poorer  children  of 
the  parish.  The  Church  Dispensary  was  carried  on 
under  their  own  roof. 

During  the  four  years  that  were  yet  to  elapse  before 
St.  Luke's  should  be  ready  for  use,  something  over  two 
hundred  patients  were  nursed  in  this  Infirmary  of  the 
Holy  Communion.  The  larger  number  were  incura- 
bles, but  not  nearly  all.  The  Sisters  cared  for  their 
charge  in  the  main,  without  any  hired  assistance,  even 
to  laying  them  out  with  their  own  hands,  in  death,  and 
a  very  blessed  service  they  found  it.  The  memory  of 
those  days  of  their  "first  love"  was  always  very  pre- 
cious to  this  early  band  of  volunteer  workers,  and  the 
Infirmary  was,  further,  a  valuable  seminary  for  the  fu- 
ture St.  Luke's. 

Dr.  Muhlenberg  took  the  greatest  pleasure  in  the 
work,  throwing  his  warm  Christian  love  and  sympathy 


276  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

into  every  part  of  it.  At  one  time  a  woman  was  ad- 
mitted, whose  malady,  unexpectedly  proved  to  be 
small-pox,  and  the  disease  spread ;  there  were  some 
five  or  six  cases  in  all.  The  Sisters  were  quarantined 
for  many  days,  by  the  fears  of  the  congregation.  They 
were  debarred  attendance  at  church,  and  for  the  most 
part  excluded  from  all  outside  communication,  save  with 
their  pastor.  No  such  considerations  could  deter  him 
from  constant  intercourse  as  well  with  the  sick  as  with 
their  Sister  nurses ;  and  his  visits  were  like  sunshine  in 
the  inevitable  gloom  of  the  situation.  On  one  of  these 
occasions,  he  found  a  young  probationary  Sister,  rock- 
ing, as  he  lay  wrapped  in  a  blanket  within  her  arms, 
a  little  boy,  very  ill  with  the  loathsome  disease.  She 
was  singing  a  hymn  for  him,  and  the  poor  child  smiled 
as  he  looked  up  to  her  face  and  forgot  his  pain  and 
restlessness.  Dr.  Muhlenberg  came  down  from  the 
ward  enamored  of  the  picture — "The  very  ideal  of  a 
Sister  of  Charity."  It  is  comfortable  to  add,  that 
the  Sisters  themselves  passed  through  the  exposure 
unharmed. 

There  were  extremely  interesting  religious  services 
in  that  little  Infirmary :  many  baptisms,  more  than  one 
confirmation,  and  frequent  communions.  These,  in 
connection  with  the  opportunities  of  unobtrusive  per- 
sonal service  afforded,  its  freedom  from  the  annoyances 
of  hired  employees  and  other  disturbing  elements  in- 
separable from  larger  hospitals,  were  greatly  enjoyed 
by  the  Sisters  and  so  frequently  the  subject  of  con- 
gratulation that  Dr.  Muhlenberg  often  said  to  them, 


THE    CORNER-STONE   LAID.  277 

"Ah,  you  will  find  nothing  like  this  in  St.  Luke's." 
Nor  did  they.  Admirable  and  beautiful  as  is  that 
Institution. 

The  corner-stone  of  the  Hospital  was  laid  by  Bishop 
Wainwright,  May  6th,  1854.  In  some  verses  of  a 
hymn  written  for  the  occasion,  Dr.  Muhlenberg  thus 
expressed  the  spirit  of  the  Foundation: 


"The  lepers  cleansed,  the  palsied  healed, 

Kestored  the  maimed,  the  halt,  the  blind, 
Thy  Gospel  thus  of  old  revealed, 
A  Gospel  still,  thy  poor  shall  find. 

"Thy  church  with  sympathizing  heart 

For  every  form  of  human  ill, 
Shall  yet  do  all  the  brother's  part, 
Shall  yet  thy  charge  of  love  fulfil." 

The  site  is  upon  the  Fifth  Avenue,  between  Fifty- 
fourth  and  Fifty-fifth  Streets,  the  plot  being  two  hun- 
dred feet  by  four  hundred  in  length. 

The  architect  was  Mr.  John  W.  Kitch.  In  making 
the  plan  of  the  house,  he  was  directed  to  start  with 
that  which  had  been  already  determined  upon,  viz.,  a 
central  Chapel  immediately  communicating  with  the 
wards.  He  worked  this  admirably  into  his  design, 
and  by  corridors  running  lengthwise  outside  the  wards, 
and  connecting  with  the  Chapel,  made  the  latter  highly 
conducive  to  the  ventilation  of  the  building.  With 
its  ample  windows,  it  became  a  reservoir  of  fresh  air 
flowing  into  the  wards,  and  by  means  of  the  double 


278  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

stairways,  which  connect  all  the  stories  permeating  the 
whole  house.  The  building  occupies  the  northern  part 
of  the  plot,  the  principal  front  being  011  Fifty-fourth 
Street.  It  thus  faces  the  south,  extending  longitudi- 
nally from  east  to  west  two  hundred  and  eighty  feet. 

The  general  plan  of  the  building  is  a  narrow  par- 
allelogram, with  a  wing  at  each  end,  and  the  central 
Chapel  flanked  with  towers.  The  elevations  of  the 
several  fronts,  even  to  the  members  of  the  cornices, 
are  of  square  brick,  the  architect  being  required  to 
build  at  the  smallest  expense  consistently  with  dura- 
bility and  a  becoming  appearance. 

"The  plan  of  the  building,"  said  Dr.  Muhlenberg, 
"I  was  desirous  should  provide  rooms  for  the  good 
women,  the  Sisters,  who,  under  the  Pastor  and  Super- 
intendent, it  was  tacitly  understood  were  to  have 
charge  of  the  sick.  On  mentioning  this  to  one  or 
two  of  my  most  intimate  friends  in  the  Board,  they 
thought  it  decidedly  inexpedient,  not  so  much  from 
any  feeling  of  their  own,  as  from  existing  prejudices, 
which  were  so  strong,  that  they  feared  any  provision 
for  'nuns,'  as  they  would  be  called,  would  seriously 
damage  the  whole  enterprise.  The  Clerical  Board  of 
the  Hospital  made  objections  on  the  same  score,  and 
required  that  nothing  should  be  done  in  regard  to  it 
without  their  unanimous  consent.  But  a  better  under- 
standing soon  came  about,  and  by  the  time  the  Hos- 
pital was  opened,  fears  of '  Puseyite  Sisters,'  no  longer 
came  in  the  way  of  an  agency  which  in  its  domestic  and 
Christian  administration  soon  proved  itself  invaluable." 


THE    SPILT    WATER.  279 

As  in  the  building  of  the  Church  of  the  Holy  Com- 
munion, so  here  with  the  Hospital,  the  main  design  was 
the  architect's;  but  Dr.  Muhlenberg's  taste  and  judg- 
ment were  continually  brought  to  bear  upon  the 
details;  now,  it  may  be,  arching  an  ugly  square 
door  or  window,  or  again  ingeniously  converting 
some  awkward  and  useless  appendage  into  a  shapely 
convenience. 

His  out-of-door  exercise,  as  the  walls  rose  above  the 
foundation,  was  very  frequently  in  the  direction  of  the 
Hospital.  In  one  of  his  many  walks  through  Fifty- 
fourth  Street,  a  little  incident  occurred  that  illuminates 
an  especial  grace  of  his  character.  As  he  passed  along 
the  unpaved  street,  he  accidentally  overset,  stumbling 
as  he  did  so,  a  pail  of  water  which  was  left  in  the  foot- 
path. Instantly,  an  ill-looking  boy,  who  had  been 
playing  with  some  others  in  the  road,  rushed  up,  shout- 
ing, '  I  say,  old  man,  what  did  you  do  that  for  ?  That 
water  had  to  be  fetched,  I  tell  yer."  "Why  did  you 
leave  your  pail  so  dangerously  in  the  path?"  said  the 
Doctor's  companion,  with  some  indignation.  "And  how 
dare  you  speak  so  rudely  to  the  gentleman  ?  "  "  Well ! 
Well !  Never  mind,"  Dr.  Muhlenberg  replied.  "  It  is 
a  pity  the  water  is  spilt.  Will  sixpence  pay  for  getting 
some  more,  my  boy?"  handing  the  coin  as  he  spoke. 
The  young  rough  took  the  money  with  a  gruff,  "  s'pose 
so,"  and  ran  off,  hugging  himself,  no  doubt,  at  his  good 
bargain,  while  the  man  of  God,  without  comment  kept 
on  his  way. 

The  foregoing  is  a  slight  and  trivial  illustration  of 


280  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS   MUHLENBERG. 

the  spirit  which  ruled  in  him,  habitually,  as  to  the  en- 
durance of  an  injury.  He  could  always  accept  kindly 
and  gently  a  wrong  that  involved  nothing  beyond  his 
personal  discomfort  or  loss;  frequently  saying  to  those 
anxious  for  his  interest,  "  Don't  trouble  —  only  let  us 
do  right!  The  great  thing  is  to  do  right!"  In  a 
transaction,  some  years  later,  whereby  he  was  unjustly 
deprived  of  a  considerable  amount  of  money,  he  ex- 
pressed so  much  satisfaction  at  -the  peaceableness  of 
the  arbitrament — having  feared  a  dispute — and  gave 
God  thanks  so  heartily,  that  it  might  have  been  sup- 
posed he  was  as  much  a  gainer  in  the  business,  as  he 
was  actually  a  loser. 

Yet  no  one  looking  on  would  have  said  there  was 
weakness  in  this.  It  was  evidently,  and  afiectingly, 
the  Christian  in  his  strength,  nobly  acting  out  the 
principle  of  the  command:  "If  any  man  take  away 
thy  coat,  let  him  have  thy  cloak  also." 


CHAPTER    XVII. 

1855-1856. 

A  Summer  in  Europe.— St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital.— St.  Barnabas,  Pim- 
lico. — An  Hour  with  Maurice. — Working  Men's  Bible  Class. — A  quiet 
Old  Town.— Ely  Cathedral.— The  House  of  Peers.— The  Lords  Spir- 
itual.— Home  Thoughts. — Switzerland.— The  Silber  Horn.— A  Sunday 
at  Strasburg. — The  Lord's  Day  in  Paris. — Refined  Godlessness.— Hiib- 
ner's  Pointing. — Delight  in  his  Christmas  Gift.— A  Re-union.— His 
Sixtieth  Birthday. 

WITH  the  Memorial  and  the  Hospital  building  fully 
under  way,  Dr.  Muhlenberg,  in  the  summer  of  1855, 
allowed  himself  the  refreshment  of  another  few  months 
in  Europe.  He  left  in  April,  and  returned  at  the  end 
of  the  October  following.  The  trip  had  not  the  charm 
of  novelty  and  freshness  attaching  to  that  of  twelve 
years  before,  but  a  stay  of  some  weeks  in  England  was 
found  very  agreeable,  especially  in  its  opportunities 
of  intercourse  with  some  of  the  leading  minds  of  the 
day,  on  subjects  of  the  deepest  interest  to  him.  The 
Memorial  Movement  and  the  growing  interest  in  Sis- 
terhoods embraced  questions  for  the  mother  as  well 
as  the  daughter  church,  and  of  hospitals,  he  had  in 
London,  a  noble  field  of  study,  no  city  in  the  world 
being  so  largely  supplied  with  the  best  institutions  of 
the  kind.  Some  passages  from  his  frequent  letters  to 
during  this  absence  will  best  give  the  more  in- 
teresting particulars  of  his  holiday: 


282  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

".  .  .  .  I  spent  several  hours  in  St.  Bartholomew's 
Hospital.  One  of  the  chaplains,  a  most  excellent  and 
earnest  man,  accompanied  me  through  every  part  of  it. 
He  complained  of  Dickens,  in  his  otherwise  admirable 
description  of  the  institution,  ignoring  the  religious 
provisions  of  the  same;  and  well  might  he  complain. 
There  are  four  chaplains,  two  of  them  in  residence 
attending  on  the  sick.  Service  is  read  every  day  in 
each  of  the  wards.  Suitable  prayers  in  large  print 
on  a  card  are  hung  over  the  bed  of  each  patient.  Apt 
and  consolatory  texts  of  Scripture  are  painted  on  the 
walls.  All  the  Sisters  but  one  are  communicants  of 
the  church,  and  those  I  spoke  to  seemed  to  be  good 
women.  The  Christian  character  of  the  place  is  evi- 
dent at  a  glance,  and  if  all  the  chaplains  are  like  the 
one  who  went  about  with  us,  nothing  on  that  score 
is  wanting.  The  most  ample  space  is  allowed  for  the 
beds ;  there  not  being  more  than  twenty-two  or  twenty- 
four  in  each  ward,  which  is  divided  into  two  compart- 
ments, leaving  to  each  ten  or  twelve  patients,  in  a 
room  some  forty  feet  long  by  twenty-five  in  width. 
Each  ward  has  the  service  of  four  nurses  including 
the  Sister.  The  atmosphere  was  as  fresh  as  in  our 
little  Infirmary,  and  the  cleanliness  everywhere  is  beau- 
tiful. If  the  other  hospitals  of  London  are  in  like 
condition,  and  I  am  told  they  are,  London  has  more 
to  boast  of  than  I  imagined."  * 

*  St.  Bartholomew's  is  the  oldest  hospital  in  the  city.  It  was  orig- 
inally founded  in  1102.  It  has  at  present  accommodation  for  about 
six  hundred  patients,  who  are  all  supported  by  the  funds  of  the  in- 


F.  D.  MAURICE.  283 

" .  .  .  .  Was  at  a  Sunday  service  at  St.  Barnabas 
Church,  but  found  no  poor  people  there,  the  same  at 
St.  Matthias,  another  church  of  the  same  stamp.  Pu- 
seyism  has  made  no  impression  upon  the  masses,  nor 
will  the  church  in  any  of  her  parties,  with  her  pres- 
ent system.  On  this  subject,  which  is  to  me  one  of 
constant  observation  and  thought,  I  have  more  to  say 
than  I  can  put  in  a  letter.  ..." 

"  I  have  just  come  from  breakfast  with  the  Bishop  of 
Oxford  where  I  met  Trench,  author  of  the  'Parables,' 
etc.  The  Bishop  is  much  interested  in  the  Memorial." 

" .  .  .  .  Spent  a  pleasant  hour  with  Maurice.  He 
talks  as  he  writes.  They  tell  me  his  eyes  resemble 
mine,  perhaps  there  is  a  likeness.  I  went  on  Sunday 
evening  to  his  Bible  class  for  working  men.  He  ex- 
plained to  them  the  third  chapter  of  St.  John's  First 
Epistle,  having  gone  through  the  Gospel;  he  evidently 
felt  at  home  in  the  writings  of  the  beloved  disciple,  and 
in  an  easy  and  familiar  manner  brought  out  the  sense 
with  great  beauty.  Afterwards,  the  men  asked  him 
any  questions  they  pleased,  and  I  was  surprised  at  the 
intelligence  and  discrimination  evinced.  Maurice  read- 
ily answered  them  all  with  the  meekness  of  wisdom.  I 
accepted  an  invitation  to  breakfast  with  him  next 
morning,  when  I  saw  his  family,  but  had  not  much 
opportunity  for  conversation.  He  is  a  lovely  man,  and 
just  such  an  one  as  you  would  fancy  from  his  books. 

stitution,  which  yield  a  yearly  income  of  £32,000.  Its  yearly  average 
of  in-patients  is  about  six  thousand,  out-patients  twenty  thousand, 
and  casualties  forty  to  fifty  thousand. 


284  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

These  lines  occurred  to  me,  and  I  sent  them  to  him  in 
an  envelope  anonymously.  He  can  only  guess  where 
they  come  from — 

"'Lowliest  in  heart,  'mid  those  he  taught— 
In  mind,  with  richest  treasure  fraught, 
His  deep  and  loving  thoughts  flowed  on— 
A  John  himself,  expounding  John.'" 

" .  .  .  .  Went  out  to  Clewer  and  had  a  long  talk 
with  the  'Sister  Superior,'  as  she  is  styled.  .  .  . 
They  are  doing  great  good,  I  am  sure ;  but  their  relig- 
ious system  lacks  in  the  Evangelical  element.  ... 
They  depend  too  much  upon  training.  Every  penitent, 
unless  dismissed,  becomes  a  communicant  of  course. 
The  Sisters  go  to  confession,  not  however  compulsorily. 
They  keep  the  canonical  hours,  thus  meeting  for  prayer 
six  times  a  day.  On  the  whole  it  is  too  much  a  copy- 
ing of  the  Koman  Sisterhood 

"  I  have  often  said  I  should  like  to  live  awhile  in  one 
of  the  old  towns  of  England.  Well,  this  town  of  Ely 
is  one  in  perfection.  In  our  walk  of  a  mile  from  the 
railroad  to  the  Cathedral  we  scarce  met  a  dozen  per- 
sons, and  they  evidently  showed  they  were  not  used  to 
the  sight  of  strangers.  The  low,  antique  houses,  I  sup- 
pose were  tenanted,  but  they  gave  no  signs  of  anima- 
tion, and  yet  there  were  shops  of.  all  kinds.  I  won- 
dered who  bought  at  them,  until  I  learned  there  were 
market  days  and  fairs.  .  .  The  huge  rich  pile  of  the 
Cathedral  stands  in  solitary  grandeur;  of  course  it  was 
that  I  came  to  see.  It  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  the  king- 


A  QUAINT  OLD   TOWN.  285 

dom,  and  in  some  of  its  interior  architecture  the  finest. 
It  suffered  severely  from  the  Cromwell  men;  but  now 
they  are  restoring  it  to  its  original  beauty  at  a  great 
outlay  of  money,  at  least  half  a  million  of  dollars,  and 
that  by  voluntary  contributions,  largely  by  the  dean 
and  chapter,  who,  indeed,  from  their  rich  livings,  with 
little  work,  ought  to  spare  liberally  for  the  glory  of  the 
sanctuary  which  so  munificently  supports  them.  There 
is  certainly  a  great  deal  of  zeal,  all  over  England,  in 
church  restoration  and  decoration ;  a  sign  I  would  hope 
of  a  genuine  revival  of  religion — but — but — the  temple 
at  Jerusalem  was  restored  with  surpassing  grandeur, 
and  was  still  being  adorned,  when  it  was  about  to  be 
destroyed,  not  one  stone  to  be  left  upon  another.  With 
all  the  good  that  is  doing  in  the  Church  of  England 
I  can't  help  fearing  for  her,  so  long  as  she  is  so  little 
the  poor  man's  church. — But  this  old  town  of  Ely !  I 
don't  think  I  could  be  tempted  by  its  sweet  quietude  to 
stop  here  for  the  winter.  I  fear  I  might  go  to  sleep, 
despite  the  choral  service  of  the  Cathedral.  On  the 
whole,  I  believe  I  should  thrive  better,  body  and  soul, 
amid  the  rattle  and  clatter  of  Sixth  Avenue  and  Twen- 
tieth Street ! — What  a  nice  dinner  we  had  at  the  silent 
little  inn !  what  a  gently  treading  waitress !  and  how 
sweetly  the  mistress  of  the  house  thanked  us,  as  we 
paid  our  bill ! .  .  .  ." 

He  visited  all  the  principal  hospitals  of  London  and 
Paris,  with  his  accustomed  grasp  of  their  character 
and  methods.  Through  the  kindness  of  the  Bishop  of 
Oxford,  he  obtained  admission  for  himself  and  friend  to 


286  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

the  House  of  Peers  when  the  Earl  of  Shaftesbury  made 
one  of  his  characteristic  speeches  and  was  replied  to  by 
the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  and  Bishop  of  London. 
Concluding  a  description  of  all  this,  he  adds: 

"The  Bishops  corne  forward  only  when  something 
touching  their  rights  or  the  rights  of  the  church  is  on 
the  carpet.  They  don't  stand  up  for  truth  and  right- 
eousness in  great  political  questions If 

they  keep  their  seats  in  the  House,  they  should  be 
prophets  of  the  Lord,  declaring  his  will  in  the  high 
places  of  the  land.  .  .  ." 

His  first  letter  from  the  Continent  is  mainly  sub- 
jective, but  highly  characteristic. 

".  .  .  .  What  have  I  to  tell  you  that  will  be  as 
good  as  any  thing  you  give  me  from  Home,  Sweet 
Home?  I  am  not  going  to  stay  the  winter — no.  Don't 
tell  my  sister,  and  I'll  confess  to  you  that  she  knew  me 
a  little  better  than  I  knew  myself  when  she  said  it 
was  impossible  I  could  prolong  my  stay  for  a  year. 
Occupation — Occupation  with  which  my  heart  and  con- 
science are  satisfied  is  necessary  for  my  happiness.  As 
to  having  nothing  to  do  but  to  enjoy  the  scenes  of  day 
after  day,  whatever  they  were,  would  be  intolerable  for 
much  less  time  than  a  twelvemonth.  What  an  episode 
in  my  life  is  this  strolling  about  Paris.  I  hope  it  is 
not  altogether  wrong,  but  I  can't  help  asking  myself 
what  do  I  here?  .  .  .  What  should  I  do  without 
my  New  Testament— without  the  sweet  thoughts  that 
thence  arise  in  my  mind  and  prompt  to  blessed  corn- 


SWITZERLAND.  287 

munion  with  my  Lord.  .  .  .  Never  have  I  remem- 
bered you  all  more  earnestly  in  my  intercession.  .  ," 
In  another  place  he  adds:  "My  thoughts,  when  they 
turn  homeward,  which  is  not  seldom,  linger  much  in 
the  scenes  of  the  Sisterhood.  Give  my  love,  one  by 

one,  to  the  patients  of  the  Infirmary, — little  B ,  I 

see  her  now,  and  D ,  dear  boy — I  wish  I  could  give 

him  a  kiss  for  what  you  tell  me  of  him.  .  .  .  What 
would  I  give  for  a  sight  of  you  all ! " 

".  .  .  .  From  my  last  letter  to  you  from  Paris, 
you  concluded  I  was  rather  dull  and  tired.  I  was — of 
that  city  of  vanity  and  sin.  But  I  have  had  much  en- 
joyment since.  How  could  it  be  otherwise  in  Switzer- 
land with  its  glorious  scenery;  the  beautiful  ever  re- 
lieving the  eye  wearied  with  the  grand.  It  exceeded 
all  I  had  ever  pictured  to  my  mind.  Chamouni,  Mt. 
Blanc,  Mer  de  Glace,  Tete  Noir,  Martigny,  Grindelwald, 
etc.,  etc., — in  these  places  we  spent  two  weeks  of  the 
finest  weather  imaginable.  Never  could  the  Alps  have 
looked  more  magnificent.  The  Silber  Horn  of  the  Ber- 
nese range — how  it  charmed  my  eye !  But  instead  of 
attempting  a  description,  I  will  read  your  journal  in 
Switzerland  when  I  get  home,  to  see  again  what  I 
have  seen.  .  .  .  Here  at  Strasburg,  on  Sunday  we 
found  no  English  service,  but  I  spent  the  day  prof- 
itably, I  hope,  by  the  reflections  excited  in  what  I 
saw  of  the  Roman  worship  in  the  great  cathedral,  and 
in  the  Lutheran  service  of  the  afternoon.  I  allowed 
myself  to  sympathize  with  the  former  in  feeling  and 


288  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

imagination,  as  a  grand  superstition  enclosing  the 
great  verities  of  the  Gospel;  but  the  latter,  moved  my 
heart.  The  German  choral,  from  a  full  congregation, 
was  just  what  I  wanted  to  hear,  and  most  devoutly  did 
I  join  in  it.  It  was  a  missionary  occasion,  and  the 
burden  of  the  speaker  was  the  necessity  of  the  Word 
as  well  as  the  Sacraments.  The  church  was  adorned 
with  pictures,  and  on  the  altar  before  the  minister 
stood  a  small  silver  crucifix.  .  .  ." 

'"At  Paris  again?'  you  exclaim.  Even  so.  How  I 
came  here  again,  and  so  soon,  never  mind  now.  It 
would  be  too  long  a  story  and  one  I  would  rather  tell 
when  I  get  home  than  fill  my  sheet  with  writing  it. 
You  know  what  a  Sunday  in  Paris  is.  As  you  passed 
through  the  gay  and  busy  throngs,  I  dare  say  your 
reflections  were  much  the  same  as  my  own.  I  am  no 
Puritan — I  have  no  affection  for  a  Jewish  Sabbath — but 
surely  this  Sunday  here  is  not  '  the  day  which  the  Lord 
hath  made.'  It  is  not  the  Lord's  day,  but,  of  all  the 
seven,  the  day  of  the  God  of  this  world,  devoted  to 
his  service  in  all  the  pomps  and  vanities  with  which 
he  can  be  worshipped.  And  how  happy  the  devotees 
all  seem ! — how  light-hearted !  — how  good-natured  and 
kind  one  to  another!  No  fighting  or  quarrelling;  no 
drunkenness  or  gross  dissipation, — all,  apparently,  pure 
mirth  and  enjoyment.  So  it  is  that  godlessness,  even 
utter  godlessness,  need  not,  necessarily,  make  men 
coarse  and  brutal.  It  may  be  beautiful,  refined,  and 
fascinating.  Its  Elysium  may  seem  indeed  the  re- 


WINSOME    GODLESSNESS.  289 

gions   of  felicity,  to  satisfy  nature,  for  the  while,   at 
least. 

"This  is  one  of  the  things  exemplified  in  Parisian 
life.  We  see  to  what  perfection  the  animal  man  can 
be  carried.  What  a  heaven  he  can  make  for  himself — 
What  an  Eden  without  God,  and  where,  since  there  is 
no  forbidden  fruit,  the  serpent  need  never  show  him- 
self. But  ah,  without  showing  himself,  how  many  does 
he  beguile!  with  what  subtlety  is  his  power  diffused 
everywhere.  Visitors,  and  those  who  come  to  reside 
here,  how  soon  are  they  reconciled  to  the  fair  and 
winsome  godlessness.  Even  vice  by  '  losing  all  its 
grossness'  loses  in  their  eyes  'half  its  evil.'  'Why,' 
they  ask,  'should  not  Sunday  be  the  happiest  day  of 
the  week,  as  it  is  to  these  merry  thousands  on  the 
Champs  Elysees  and  the  Boulevards?  Does  not  God 
delight  in  the  happiness  of  his  creatures  ?  So  you  will 
hear  Americans  talk  in  the  new  light  with  which  they 
look  back  on  the  days  of  their  ignorance.  This  is  one 
of  the  enlightening  effects  of  travel.  Well  would  it 
have  been  for  many,  had  they  stayed  at  home  and  re- 
mained in  their  darkness.  .  .  ." 

The  last  of  these  letters,  mailed  immediately  before 
his  embarkation  for  home,  thus  concludes: 

"I  look  forward  to  the  joyful  Sunday,  the  28th,  in 
the  firm  hope  that  God  will  give  it  to  us,  but  nothing 
doubting  that,  if  he  order  otherwise,  that  will  be  best 
for  us.  He  is  our  Father,  that  is  enough.  .  .  .  Fare- 
Avell,  until  our  happy  greeting,  whether  on  this  or  on 
the  other  side  of  Jordan.  .  .  ." 
19 


290  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

In  the  year  1856  lie  passed  an  especially  delightful 
Christmas.  The  festival  of  the  Nativity  was  always 
greatly  enjoyed  by  him.  The  contemplation  of  the 
immeasurable  love  to  the  race,  of  the  Incarnation,  the 
Divine  Son  made  our  Elder  Brother,  and  the  univer- 
sal peace  and  good- will  thence  diffused,  enraptured 
his  heart.  This  was  manifest  in  his  boyhood.  In  the 
chapels  of  the  Institute  and  of  St.  Paul's  College,  he 
carried  out  some  of  his  earliest  visions  of  a  right  joyous 
celebration  of  the  stupendous  fact,  and  these  sweet 
customs,  so  far  as  practicable,  were  in  due  time  trans- 
ferred to  the  Church  of  the  Holy  Communion. 

There,  at  a  service,  some  time  before  sunrise,  the 
whole  congregation  assembled  to  sing  the  Angels' 
Song  and  receive  their  pastor's  Christmas  greeting. 
The  church  would  be  ablaze  with  light,  and  the 
fresh  evergreens  emitted  their  sweet,  resinous  breath 
like  fragrant  incense.  "  Venite  Adoremus  "  was  given 
forth  in  a  concourse  of  glad  strains  by  choir  and 
organ ;  not  in  the  old  Latin,  but  as  rendered  into  free 
English  by  Dr.  Muhlenberg  himself,  and  incorporated 
with  the  Doxologies  of  our  Prayer  Book  and  Hymnal, 
thus : 

"Come  let  us  adore  him,  come  bow  at  his  feet; 
Oh !  give  him  the  glory,  the  praise  that  is  meet; 
Let  joyful  hosannas  unceasing  arise, 
And  join  the  full  chorus  that  gladdens  the  skies." 

After  prayer  and  praise  were  over,  the  pastor  would 
come  to  the  front  of  the  chancel,  alms-basin  in  hand. 


A    REUNION.  291 

to  exchange  personal  congratulations  with  his  people. 
All  who  chose,  and  rarely  any  omitted  the  graceful  act, 
came  forward  to  shake  hands  with  him,  and  as  they 
wished  him  Christmas  joy,  dropped  a  gift  for  the  poor 
into  the  alms-basin  which  he  held  throughout  in  his 
left  hand.  Goodly  amounts  were  thence  derived  for 
winter  comforts  for  the  needier  members,  many  of 
whom  deposited  their  own  mite  in  the  plate  as  they 
came  with  the  rest  for  a  word  of  blessing — "  Coppers," 
Dr.  Muhlenberg  used  to  say,  "  which  weigh  as  gold  in 
the  balances  of  the  sanctuary." 

On  Christmas  Day,  of  the  year  of  which  we  are 
speaking,  after  these  devotions  were  over,  and  before 
the  hour  for  the  regular  morning  service  came,  there 
was  gathered  in  the  church  another  Christmas  congre- 
gation, the  meeting  with  whom  filled  the  fatherly  heart 
of  the  pastor  to  overflowing.  It  was  an  assemblage 
composed  wholly  of  the  sons  of  other  days, — his  for- 
mer pupils  of  the  Institute  and  St.  Paul's  College, 
assembled  there,  from  far  and  near,  partly  to  receive 
his  acknowledgment  of  a  united  Christmas  gift  which 
they  had  sent  him  the  night  before,  but  more  partic- 
ularly for  a  reunion  with  him  once  again  in  the  hal- 
lowed Christmas  strains  which  he  had  taught  them 
in  their  boyhood. 

The  occasion  came  about  as  follows :  among  a  col- 
lection of  pictures  on  exhibition  which  Dr.  Muhlen- 
berg visited,  was  one  by  "  Hu.bner,  the  first  artist  of 
the  Protestant  branch  of  the  Dusseldorf  school,"  which 
strongly  excited  his  admiration.  He  thus  describes  it: 


292  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

"The  painting,  three  feet  by  two,  represents  the 
interior  of  a  German  cottage,  with  the  rustic  family 
engaged  with  the  Holy  Scriptures.  A  boy  reading 
from,  the  Bible  forms  the  centre  of  the  group.  His 
grand-parents  are  listening — the  mother  lighted  up  with 
joy  in  believing;  the  father  pondering  what  he  hears 
with  a  more  reasoning  faith ;  the  sister  of  the  boy,  with 
half-absent  looks,  is  patiently  waiting  with  folded  arms 
until  he  is  done,  leaning  on  the  back  of  the  chair  which 
he  occupies  as  the  seat  of  honor  for  the  time  in  con- 
sideration of  his  office.  In  the  foreground  is  apparently 
the  widowed  mother  of  the  children,  who  has  returned 
with  them  to  the  old  home.  She  listens  with  the  com- 
posure of  calm  reverence  and  attention.  Light  through 
an  opening  in  the  roof  hints  at  illumination  from 
above." 

He  named  this  beautiful  work  of  art  "The  Gospel 
at  Home."  One  of  his  former  pupils,  then  resident  in 
New  York,  learning  the  impression  made  upon  Dr. 
Muhlen berg's  mind  by  this  picture,  conceived  the 
happy  idea  of  uniting  with  his  former  schoolmates  in 
the  purchase  of  it,  as  a  joint  Christmas  gift  to  their 
beloved  school-father.  The  suggestion  was  eagerly 
seized  by  those  to  whom  it  was  mentioned;  a  Com- 
mittee was  appointed,  and  communication  had  with  as 
many  of  the  old  scholars  as  could  be  reached.  There 
was  but  one  sentiment  on  the  subject.  The  painting 
was  secured  and  duly  sent  to  the  Parsonage  of  the 
Holy  Communion  on  Christmas  Eve. 

Dr.  Muhlenberg  had  been  informed,  a  few  days  pre- 


TOO    JOYFUL    FOR    PROSE.  293 

vious,  of  what  lie  was  to  expect,  a  request  being  added, 
that  he  would 'unite  in  signalizing  the  occasion  by  a 
"church  service"  with  his  "boys"  after  the  pattern 
of  the  Christmas  devotions  of  old  times.  It  was  so  ar- 
ranged. The  school-father,  and  as  many  of  his  school- 
sons  as  were  able  to  be  present — and  they  were  not 
few  in  number — met  in  the  church  as  proposed,  and 
after  uniting  once  more  in  the  prayers  and  hymns  they 
learned  so  long  ago,  Dr.  Muhlenberg  expressed  his 
thanks  for  their  gift  in  a  carol  of  thirty-six  stanzas, 
prepared  by  him  for  the  purpose,  and  which  he  recited 
to  them,  not  without  emotion. 

The  verses  convey  tenderly  and  gracefully  the  par- 
ticulars of  the  occasion,  with  very  much  more  that 
only  their  author  could  say.  He  told  them  he  found 
himself  unable  to  make  his  acknowledgments  in  the 
ordinary  way: 

"I've  tried — my  heart  won't  go  in  prose, 
'Twill  only  sing  its  joy. 

"Seldom  since  ye  were  boys  at  school, 

I've  penned  a  rhyming  strain; 
The  genius  of  your  presence  'tis 
That  wakes  my  muse  again. 

Speaking  of  his  reception  of  the  picture  he  says: 

"  That  Christmas  gift  of  yours  last  eve- 
Greater  no  child's  delight, 
With  glistening  eyes  at  Santa  Glaus, 
Than  mine  was  at  the  sight. 


294  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

"Thanks  for  a  gift  of  costly  price, 

A  noble  work  of  art, 
More  precious  for  the  argument 
Its  grapic  forms  impart. 

"Grand  the  idea  that  canvas  shows: 

The  open  Word  of  God, 
Enlightening,  blessing,  comforting 
Souls  freed  from  priestly  rod. 

"A  youth  the  priest— a  peasant's  cot 

The  hallowed  house  of  prayer — 
No  jewelled  altar,  yet  full  sweet 
The  incense  rising  there. 

"No  mediator  save  the  ONE 
To  man  before  his  Lord: 
He  for  himself  the  pardon  reads, 
The  great  High-Priest's  own  word. 

"That  Gospel  faith  (to  set  it  forth, 

The  artist's  high  design), 
That  faith  your  gift  a  pledge  shall  be, 
For  eve.-  ycurs  and  mine. 

"And  more,  I  trow,  your  present  means: 

That  ye've  remembere'd 
How  young  and  old,  from  first  to  last, 
The  Bible  lesson  said." 

,This  last  was  even  so.  Not  a  few  in  response  to  the 
communication  of  the  Committee  regarding  the  pro- 
posed gift,  expressed  just  such  an  appreciation  and  ap- 
plication of  the  subject  of  the  painting.  Some  time 
later  the  entire  correspondence  of  this  interesting  trib- 


LETTERS    TO    COMMITTEE.         .  295 

ute  was  sent  to  Dr.  Muhlenberg,  among  whose  private 
papers  it  was  found  after  his  death.  The  following 
extracts,  gleaned  from  a  large  number  of  letters  written 
by  those  who  could  not  be  personally  present  on  the 
occasion,  will  serve  to  illustrate  the  whole.* 

One  of  his  earliest  pupils,  after  thanking  the  Commit- 
tee for  inviting  him  to  share  in  the  grateful  offering 
adds:  "The  painting  I  have  never  seen;  but  the  sub- 
ject and  its  title  are  singularly  suitable  for  a  gift  to 
one  who  has  studied  the  Scriptures,  and  lived  and 
walked  in  them  for  a  lifetime.  .  ." 

Another  writes:  "The  subject  of  the  painting — read- 
ing the  Scriptures — invests  the  gift  with  a  peculiar 
appropriateness,  when  we  call  to  mind  how  eminently 
Christian  was  the  educational  system  pursued  by  the 
Doctor,  and  how  interpenetrated  were  all  his  instruc- 
tions with  the  pure  and  holy  teachings  of  the  Inspired 
Volume.  The  familiar  names  of  your  Committee  fill 
my  heart  with  pleasant  recollections  of  academic  life  at 
the  Institute :  the  present  seems  to  be  obliterated  and 
the  days  of  boyhood  to  re-appear,— lForsan  et  haec  dim 
meminisse  juvabif  There  is  the  old  Study,  with  the 

*  The  Committee  consisted  of  the  following  gentlemen,  all  former 

scholars: 

GBEGOBY  THURSTON  BEDELL,  JOHN  JAY, 

JOHN  IRELAND  TUCKER,  SAMUEL  D.  BABCOCK, 

SAMUEL  E.  JOHNSON,  WILLIAM  E.   WILMERDING, 

A.  B.  CARTER,  J.  W.  C.  VAN  BOKKELEN, 

GEORGE  BLIGHT,  BENJAMIN  W.  STRONG. 

The  ballad,  or  "Christmas  Carol,"  is  found  entire  in  the  collection 

of  verses  published  by  A.  D.  F.  Randolph,  N.  Y. 


296  WILLIAM- AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

wished-for,  yet  formidable,  scenes  of  Examination  Day; 
there  is  the  Hippodrome,  with  its  well-worn  circle, 
telling  of  many  a  good-natured  struggle;  there  is  the 
Dormitory  with  its  tidy  alcoves,  the  envy  of  youngsters 
doomed  to  unambitious  cots;  and  all  these  associated 
with  the  beloved  and  welcome  presence — the  faithful, 
fatherly  care  of  the  good  Doctor." 

Another  in  the  same  retrospective  strain  says:  "Noth- 
ing could  be  more  delightful  to  me  than  the  opportu- 
nity of  affording  pleasure  to  him  to  whom  I  owe  so 
much.  The  happiest  time  of  my  life  was  spent  at  the 
Old  Point,  and  often  do  I  sit  dreaming  of  the  hours 
passed  there.  Yes,  all  comes  before  me  like  a  dream, 
— The  school-rooms,  the  alcoves,  the  dormitories,  the 
forum ;  and  then  the  skating,  the  bathing  and  boating, 
etc.  Those  were  pleasant  days!  The  Doctor's  happy 
face  beams  through  all  these  memories,  and  at  times  I 
could  weep,  that  I  am  not,  now,  as  I  was  then ;  for  he 
is  not  near  to  guide  and  direct  me.  .  .  ." 

Another  says :  "  To  him  I  owe  much  gratitude.  He 
not  only  taught  me  to  read  the  Scriptures,  but  to  feel 
the  efficacy  of  their  divine  truth." 

Another:  "If  there  is  any  good  in  me,  I  owe  it  to  his 
counsels." 

Another :  "In  doing  honor  to  one  who  is  in  advance 
of  his  age,  we  are  but  doing  honor  to  ourselves." 

On  the  16th  of  September  of  this  year,  he  had  com- 
pleted his  sixtieth  year.  The  anniversary,  as  usual, 
had  its  especial  exercises.  Among  its  minutes,  were 
the  following: 


FILIAL   REMINISCENCES.  297 

"  To-day  I  am  sixty  years  old.  Penitence  or  thanks- 
giving— which  shall  prevail  ?  '  Every  day  will  I  give 
thanks  unto  thee  and  praise  thy  Name  for  ever  and 
ever.'  I  can  hardly  feel  it  a  fact  that  I  am  three- 
score— yet  the  time  past  does  not  seem  short;  and  I 
feel  as  if  I  should  live  a  few  years  yet  to  finish  the 
works  which  I  humbly  trust  have  been  given  me  to 

do Eead  over  the  pages  of  my  mother's 

illness  and  death — a  melancholy  pleasure,  opportune 
for  my  birthday How  much  do  I  owe  her!5' 

He  notes  the  several  engagements  of  the  day  thus: 
"  Had  prayers  in  the  Infirmary,  in  both  wards.  Went 

with  to  look  at  the  Hospital  building.  Entered 

C.  F."  (a  lad  who  had  been  his  attendant)  "  at  the  New 
York  University;  he  has  been  a  good  and  faithful  boy. 
.  .  .  Read  to  my  sister.  Dr.  Cruse  took  tea  with  us. 
We  rejoiced  together  at  the  prospect  of  a  favorable  re- 
port of  the  Commission  on  the  Memorial.  .  .  ." 

To  what  extent  this  last  anticipation  was  realized 
has  been  intimated  in  a  previous  chapter. 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 

1856-1859. 


Individuality  of  St.  Luke's  Hospital. — Fundamental  Idea.—  Impressiveness 
of  Building. — Pleasure  Grounds  for  Patients. — Plan  of  Interior. — Anoth- 
er Hundred  Thousand  Dollars. — Chapel  opened  for  Worship.— A  Hos- 
pital Church. — The  Furnishing  Committee. — A  double  good  Work. — 
Prejudice  disarmed. — Work  begun  in  St.  Luke's. — Solitariness  of  Build- 
ing.— The  First  Workers. — The  Hospital  a  Family. — Ways  and  Means. 
-r-Faith  the  best  Endowment. — Harm  of  a  Million  of  Dollars. — Ar- 
rangement with  Board  of  Managers. — A  welcome  Handsel. — Costly 
and  beautiful  Gifts. — First  Annual  Report. — The  Hospital  Associations. 

ST.  LUKE'S  .HOSPITAL  was  not  patterned  after  any 
European  institution,  admirable  as  many  of  those 
are.  Like  all  the  creations  of  its  Founder,  it  has  a 
character  and  expression  distinctively  its  own.  In 
most  hospitals,  the  advancement  of  science  is  the 
fundamental  ground  of  their  existence ;  but  St.  Luke's, 
while  necessarily  subserving  the  interests  of  science, 
has  for  its  generic  and  formative  principle,  Christian 
Brotherhood,  exemplifying  itself  in  loving,  sympathiz- 
ing care  for  the  sick  and  needy. 

The  material  structure,  free  from  all  ornament  ex- 
cept it  be  the  surmounting  Chapel  cross  and  stone  fig- 
ure of  St.  Luke  in  the  niche  below,  is  beautiful  in  its 
simple  dignity,  in  the  symmetry  of  its  proportions,  its 


ST.    LUKE'S   PLEASURE    GROUNDS.  299 

fine  commodiousness  and  its  aspect  of  cheerful  comfort. 
With  ever-open  door,  it  stands  as  though  typical  of  its 
appointed  office,  welcoming  each  sufferer  in  the  name 
of  Him  who  said:  "Come  unto  me,  all  ye  that  are 
weary  and  heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give  you  rest." 
And  the  beautiful  grounds  of  the  Hospital,  well-laid 
down  in  grass,  and  shaded  by  fine  trees,  heighten  the 
impression;  for  that  handsome  lawn  is  for  the  free  en- 
joyment of  every  patient,  physically  able  for  out-of-door 
refreshment.  It  is  a  sight  worthy  of  Christianity,  to 
see  such  scattered,  at  their  will,  over  the  soft  green 
sward,  or  lying  reposefully  imder  the  shadow  of  the 
tall  trees;  and  this  in  closest  proximity  to  Fifth  Av- 
enue, whose  world  of  wealth  and  fashion  has  not  al- 
ways forgotten  to  express  its  sympathy  by  generous 
largesses. 

The  interior  of  the  building  is  approached  from  the 
south  by  an  open  portico,  leading  past  the  business 
offices,  Managers'  Room,  Superintendent's  Apartments, 
etc.,  to  the  several  wards.  The  towers  have  also  en- 
trances from  the  south,  and  communicate  with  the 
wards,  corridors,  and  also  the  upper  stories  by  means 
of  staircases.  These  entrances  are  so  arranged  that 
they  can  be  made  to  communicate  directly  with  the 
Chapel,  without  coming  in  contact  with  the  patients. 

The  wards  are  on  either  side  of  the  central  building, 
which,  above  the  first  floor,  is  occupied  by  the  Chapel 
and  the  towers  and  stairways.  The  height  of  the  first 
floor  is  fifteen  feet.  The  wards  on  the  second  and  third 
stories  are  one  hundred  and  nine  feet  long,  twenty-six 


300  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

feet  wide,  and  fourteen  feet  high.  The  beautiful  Chil- 
dren's Ward  and  its  extension,  comprising  fifty  beds, 
occupies  the  third  story  on  the  eastern  side. 

The  corridor  or  sanitarium  adjoining  each  ward  on 
the  north  side  of  the  house,  spacious,  lofty,  and  well- 
lighted,  is  for  the  use  of  convalescing  patients,  who 
thus  have  a  refreshing  change  and  relief  from  the  sick- 
room, with  opportunity  of  in-door  exercise  in  their 
wheel-chairs  or  otherwise.  In  the  wings  are  staircases 
leading  from  the  basement  to  the  third  story,  and  con- 
nected with  each  ward  in  every  story  are  Sisters'  medi- 
cine rooms,  patients'  dining-rooms,  dumb-waiters,  bath- 
rooms and  other  appurtenances.  The  basement,  with 
the  exception  of  the  air  chambers,  is  chiefly  devoted 
to  domestic  purposes,  store-rooms  and  offices,  with  pro- 
vision in  the  east  wing  for  the  apothecary's  shop  and 
laboratory.  The  laundry  is  connected  with  the  en- 
gine-house, exterior  to  the  main  building. 

The  Chapel  is  the  distinctive  feature  of  the  Hospital 
structure.  It  is  rectangular  in  plan,  eighty-four  feet 
long,  thirty-four  feet  wide,  and  forty  feet  high.  It  has 
a  gallery  around  three  sides,  on  a  level  with  the  third 
story,  and  will  accommodate  in  all  four  hundred  per- 
sons. Its  doors,  corresponding  with  the  ward  doors  on 
each  side  of  every  story,  admit  those  in  their  beds 
as  part  of  the  congregation,  whenever  desired.  It  is 
lighted  from  the  south  by  three  wide  and  lofty  win- 
dows, and  at  the  opposite  end  is  an  inner  semi-circular 
apse,  surmounted  by  a  half  dome,  where  is  the  chancel, 
raised  four  steps  from  the  floor,  and  lighted  by  seven 


A    HOSPITAL    CHURCH.  301 

lofty  narrow  windows,  the  mild  borrowed  light  from 
which  has  a  subdued  and  grateful  effect. 

The  roof  of  the  Chapel  is  elliptical,  having  bold, 
transverse  ribs  resting  on  corbels,  with  small  inter- 
mediate longitudinal  ones,  and  a  characteristic  cor- 
nice. No  indulgence  as  to  ornament  has  been  per- 
mitted; the  agreeable  architectural  effect  produced  here 
as  elsewhere,  both  internally  and  externally,  is  solely 
due  to  an  intelligent  adaptation  of  the  plan  to  the  re- 
quirements of  the  house,  to  simplicity  of  design,  and 
the  due  proportion  of  parts  to  the  whole. 

At  the  time  of  laying  the  corner-stone,  the  Managers 
did  not  see  their  way  to  erect  more  than  the  Chapel 
and  the  connecting  wing  westward.  Subsequently  it 
was  concluded  to  go  on  with  the  entire  structure,  and 
a  subscription  for  another  hundred  thousand  dollars 
was  set  in  motion.  This  amount  was  not  secured  as 
rapidly  as  the  first  hundred  thousand,  but  in  due  time 
it  came. 

The  Chapel  was  completed  long  before  any  other  part 
of  the  building,  and  was  opened  for  divine  worship  a 
year  in  advance  of  the  commencement  of  the  direct 
work  of  the  Institution.  Dr.  Muhlenberg  designing 
thus  to  bring  out  its  ground  idea  and  distinctive  char- 
acter as  a  Church  Institution,  or,  as  he  was  fond  of 
naming  it,  a  "  Hospital  Church."  The  first  service  was 
held  on  Ascension  Day  1857,  and  thenceforward,  the 
Chapel  was  open  for  divine  worship  every  Sunday  after- 
noon, with  the  exception  of  a  brief  interval  in  mid- win- 
ter. "For  a  year,"  said  Dr.  Muhlenberg,  "St.  Luke's 


302  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS   MUHLENBERG. 

was  resorted  to  only  as  a  place  of  worship,  thus  pro- 
claiming the  evangelical  order, — good  works  the  fruit 
of  faith." 

There  were  many  subordinate  advantages  in  the 
opening  of  the  Hospital  Chapel  in  advance  of  the  read- 
iness of  the  wards  for  patients.  It  stimulated  contribu- 
tions, and  gave  rise  to  efforts  in  various  ways  for  the 
furtherance  of  the  Hospital.  It  also  brought  the  right 
kind  of  people  in  contact  with  the  enterprise. 

The  furnishing  of  the  house  now  came  under  consid- 
eration. It  was  time  preparations  were  begun;  but 
the  Managers,  while  charging  themselves  with  collec- 
tions for  the  building  and  attendant  expenses,  were 
not  ready  to  assume  any  responsibility  in  this  particu- 
lar. Dr.  Muhlenberg  overcame  the  difficulty  by  call- 
ing a  meeting  of  the  benevolent  ladies  of  the  different 
city  parishes,  from  among  whom  a  very  able  Furnish- 
ing Committee  was  formed.  The  year  intervening  be- 
tween the  beginning  of  their  work  and  the  opening 
proper  of  the  Hospital  was  not  too  long  for  the  accom- 
plishment of  so  large  and  important  a  task.  The  ladies 
fulfilled  it  very  handsomely  and  generously.  They  col- 
lected all  the  money  required,  and  made  the  purchases 
necessary  for  fitting  up,  in  the  best  manner,  two  wards 
and  the  apartments  adjoining,  as  well  as  all  the  rooms 
and  offices  needed  in  opening  the  house  for  patients, 
excepting  only  the  Sisters'  quarters,  which  the  Com- 
munity chose  to  furnish  themselves;  their  organization 
being,  at  that  time,  and  for  long  after,  quite  independ- 
ent of  the  Hospital. 


FITTING    UP    THE    WARDS.  303 

The  Furnishing  Committee,  without  useless  expen- 
diture, but  with  no  little  toil  and  care,  selected  material 
and  equipments  vastly  superior  to  any  thing  heretofore 
applied  to  hospital  uses.  This  was  in  kind  and  benev- 
olent compliance  with  Dr.  Muhlenberg's  sentiment  and 
feeling.  He  took  a  personal  interest  in  all  their  pro- 
ceedings, and  the  three-feet  wide  beds  with  their  excel- 
lent hair-mattresses,  common  to  the  wards  of  St.  Luke's, 
were  immediately  of  his  own  bespeaking.  During  the 
erection  of  the  building,  he  had  looked  into  the  matter 
of  hospital  beds,  commonly  a  twenty-six  inch  frame, 
with  a  bundle  of  straw  in  a  case  laid  upon  it,  and 
had  made  up  his  mind  what  he  meant  to  have  in  his 
own  Institution. 

It  fell  to  the  Sisters  to  provide  a  large  additional 
share  of  linen  and  clothing  for  the  destitute  patients 
they  anticipated  would  constitute  their  Hospital  charge. 
This  however  came  upon  them  by  the  force  of  circum- 
stances, rather  than  of  design.  The  year  1857  was 
one  of  extreme  suffering  from  the  great  financial 
panic,  which  threw  multitudes  out  of  employment. 
The  Sisters'  House,  among  other  severe  demands  made 
upon  it  in  consequence  of  this  state  of  affairs,  was 
thronged  by  decent  good  women,  imploring  for  work 
to  keep  their  families  from  starvation.  They  were, 
for  the  most  part,  persons  unused  to  receive  gra- 
tuities,— the  wives  of  clerks,  mechanics,  and  others  ac- 
customed to  a  respectable  support.  How  properly  to 
help  them  was  an  embarrassing  question.  Dr.  Muhl- 
enberg  came  to  the  rescue.  The  exigency,  as  common 


304  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

with  him,  brought  its  inspiration.  "  These  good  women 
shall  have  needle- work,"  he  said ;  "  they  shall  make  up 
linen  and  clothing  for  St.  Luke's.  I  will  get  the  ma- 
terial and  money  to  pay  for  the  sewing,  and  you  (the 
Sisters)  can  give  out  the  work." 

Forthwith  he  went  among  his  merchant  friends  for 
assistance.  They  were  not  backward  to  help  him. 
Several  dry  goods  merchants,  who  could  not  afford 
money,  offered  large  quantities  of  domestic  fabrics, 
which,  in  the  dulness  of  business,  had  accumulated 
in  their  warehouses.  Bales  and  cases  of  prints,  cotton 
cloth,  and  flannels  were  sent  in,  and  the  Sisters  entered 
heartily  on  their  work.  The  usual  rules  as  to  hours 
were  set  aside,  and  the  little  band,  never  more  than 
six  or  seven  in  number,  worked  early  and  late  in  cut- 
ting out  and  distributing  the  garments  to  be  made; 
Dr.  Muhlenberg,  on  his  part,  furnishing,  unremittingly, 
the  means  for  regular  and  liberal  payments.  Thus  a 
large  number  of  respectable  persons  were  tided  over  a 
period  of  peculiar  distress,  while,  at  the  same  time,  the 
Hospital  was  benefited. 

The  history  of  Dr.  Muhlenberg,  in  establishing  St. 
Luke's  Hospital,  is  so  interwoven  with  that  of  the  Sis- 
terhood, that  the  one  can  not  well  be  portrayed,  at  this 
juncture,  without  enlarging  somewhat  upon  the  other. 
Mention  has  been  made  of  the  widely-spread  preju- 
dice against  the  employment  of  Sisters  in  St.  Luke's 
which  existed  in  the  earlier  years  of  the  project;  but 
at  this  time,  the  work  of  the  Community  in  the  Infirm- 
ary, with  other  influences,  had  so  far  disarmed  appre- 


PREJUDICE   DISARMED.  305 

liension  as  to  bring  about  a  request  from  the  Board  of 
Managers  that  they  would  be  prepared  to  take  charge 
of  the  wards  of  St.  Luke's  when  these  should  be  opened, 
to  which  they  acceded.  At  length,  the  building  not 
advancing  to  completion  as  fast  as  it  should  have  done, 
a  suggestion  was  made  by  Dr.  Muhlenberg,  in  conjunc- 
tion with  the  more  influential  members  of  the  Hospital 
Board,  that  the  Sisters  should  take  possession  without 
delay,  in  such  accommodations  as  were  available,  be- 
ginning operations  as  best  they  could.  This  was  de- 
signed to  impel  contractors  and  workmen  towards  a 
conclusion.  To  this,  also,  they  consented.  The  ap- 
proaching Festival  of  the  Ascension  (May  13th,  1859) 
was  then  named  for  a  public  opening,  and  two  days 
before  that  event,  three  Sisters,  with  the  nine  patients 
then  under  their  charge  in  the  Infirmary,  removed  to 
the  Hospital,  where  the  short  ward  of  the  first  floor, 
on  the  east  side,  had  been  prepared  by  themselves  for 
their  sick.  Incompleteness  met  them  at  every  step. 
The  basement  floor  was  not  so  much  as  laid  nor  the 
kitchen  range  set.  They  did  not  exchange  the  retire- 
ment and  privacy  of  their  own  house  and  its  shel- 
tered work  for  the  wards  of  the  great  open  Hotd 
Dieu  of  St.  Luke's  without  some  feeling.  It  was  an 
eventful  step  in  their  history,  and  more  favorable, 
it  may  be,  to  the  service  of  the  Hospital  than  to  the 
genius  and  original  order  of  their  association.  But 
there  was  great  interest  in  the  new  field,  and  will- 
ing sacrifice. 

The  Hospital  building  then  stood  alone  amid  a  bare, 
20 


306  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

desolate  tract.  Unoccupied  and  unimproved  lands 
stretched  in  every  direction,  until  northward  the  eye 
fell  upon  the  then  newly  begun  Central  Park.  There 
were  during  several  years  no  buildings  between  the 
rear  of  St.  Luke's  and  the  Park,  so  that,  to  persons 
walking  on  the  Mall,  the  Hospital  formed  the  end  of 
the  vista  southward,  and  seemed  immediately  to  ter- 
minate the  promenade. 

The  house  itself  with  its  long  halls  and  huge  empty 
rooms  was  dreary  sometimes  to  its  first  occupants. 
Besides  a  plain  worthy  couple  in  charge  of  the  place, 
and  their  family,  the  only  tenants  of  the  vast  building 
were  the  Sisters,  their  nine  patients,  and  an  old  wom- 
an, to  help  in  the  nursing.  The  physician  appointed 
prospectively  as  resident,  for  some  time  made  only  a 
brief  daily  visit.  Dr.  Muhlenberg  commonly  spent 
part  of  the  afternoon  with  his  pioneers,  cheering  and 
encouraging  them ;  and  during  the  hours  of  labor,  the 
noise  of  the  workmen,  in  different  parts  of  the  build- 
ing— carpenters,  painters,  and  plumbers — gave  a  sense 
of  neighborhood;  but  these  left  when  the  daylight 
closed  in,  and  then,  amid  the  gloom  and  silence  that 
suddenly  fell  upon  the  great  house,  the  gas-fixtures  not 
being  adjusted,  a  solitary  candle  would  be  placed  here 
and  there,  throughout  the  corridor,  in  its  nearly  three 
hundred  feet  of  length,  making  visible  a  kind  of  shad- 
owy darkness. 

So  much  by  way  of  retrospect,  as  to  the  first  occupa- 
tion of  the  building,  and  also  as  illustrating  Dr.  Muhl- 
enberg's  perseverance  and  energy  under  difficulties ;  for 


HOL  Y  ENCO  URA  CEMENT.  307 

the  Sisters'  labors  and  trials  in  these  initiatory  days 
were  his  own,  naturally,  from  his  proprietorship  of  the 
work,  but  not  less  from  his  sympathy  and  loving-kind- 
ness towards  the  workers.  He  had  the  alchemist's 
power  for  transmuting  common  things  into  gold,  and 
such  exigencies  called  it  forth  signally.  His  animat- 
ing words  of  holy  encouragement,  and  his  believing 
prayers  often  shed  so  pure  and  rare  a  ray  of  heavenly 
joy  upon  those  homely  toils  that  they  brightened  into 
noblest  and  most  privileged  service — 

"  Thine  Handmaid,  Saviour,  can  it  be? 
Such  honor  dost  thou  put  on  me?" 

Within  no  long  period  the  interior  of  the  Hospital 
came  into  convenient  and  beautiful  order.  The  house- 
hold increased  in  numbers,  patients  began  to  come  in, 
and  the  resident  physician  occupied  his  proper  quar- 
ters. The  first  idea,  however,  of  the  Sisters  and  their 
Principal  taking  charge  only  of  the  nursing  was  soon 
set  aside.  It  was  speedily  apparent  that  Dr.  Muhl- 
enberg's  exalted  and  beautiful  conception  of  a  true 
Church  Hospital  could  not  be  developed  without  the 
unreserved  Christian  devotion  of  some  womanly  mind 
and  hand  to  shape,  organize,  and  guide  the  entire 
domestic  economy.  And  so  it  came  to  pass  that,  in 
advance  of  the  public  opening,  Mr.  Minturn,  as  Pres- 
ident, had  constituted  the  first  Sister  "Director  Gen- 
eral," a  title  that  almost  immediately  gave  place  to 
the  more  agreeable  and  pertinent  one  of  "  House- 
mother" which  was  held  by  the  original  incumbent 


308  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

— with  the  exception  of  a  brief  interval  —  during 
nearly  twenty  years. 

Dr.  Muhlenberg  always  said  that  his  Church  Hos- 
pital was  best  described  as  a  Christian  family  with  its 
father,  mother,  and  ministering  daughters,  making  the 
cause  of  the  sick  their  own.  The  House-father,  who 
is  also  the  Pastor,  occupying  himself  in  all  that  bears 
upon  the  spiritual  and  physical  interests  of  his  charge ; 
the  House-mother  with  her  Sister  associates — the  wom- 
anly head  of  this  family — regulating  and  refining  the 
household;  personally  serving  the  sick,  dispensing  their 
food  and  medicine,  keeping  at  their  side  through  the 
dread  ordeal  of  the  surgeon's  knife,  and  soothing  the 
dying  bed  day  or  night. 

The  peculiar  system  of  nursing  established  in  St. 
Luke's  by  Dr.  Muhlenberg,  viewed  in  its  medical 
aspect,  "is  not  the  substitution  of  voluntary  for  paid 
labor,  because  hired  nurses  are  employed;  but  the  in- 
terposition between  the  physician  and  his  patients  of 
educated  Christian  women,  who  voluntarily  perform 
certain  duties  more  responsible  than  can  be  entrusted 
to  paid  nurses.  It  is  the  substitution  of  intelligent, 
appreciative  critical  assistance  on  the  part  of  the  Sis- 
ters, for  the  unquestioning  routine  obedience  of  mere 
nurses,  and  it  has  all  the  advantages  which  increased 
intelligence  has  in  any  work " 

"Every  ward  is  in  charge  of  a  Sister,  who  has  un- 
der her  two  day  nurses,  and  one  for  the  night.  She 
has  had  some  instruction  in  medicines.  Attached  to 
her  ward  is  a  drug-closet  containing  such  materia  med- 


SYSTEM   OF  NURSING.  309 

ica  as  is  most  likely  to  be  used,  and  all  prescriptions 
are  put  up  and  administered  by  herself.  There  are  two 
advantages  in  this  over  the  ordinary  method.  First, 
as  no  medicines  are  ordered  in  quantity,  but  each  dose 
is  prepared  and  given  separately,  there  is  no  waste — 
nothing  is  left  over  to  be  thrown  away.  Secondly, 

greater  safety  and  accuracy  are  secured To 

have  the  medicine  given  by  one  who  is  herself  respon- 
sible for  its  proper  administration  and  preparation,  who 
is  required  by  the  Kules  of  the  Sisterhood  to  understand 
its  nature,  the  ordinary  dose,  and  its  expected  effect, 
and  who  is  honest  and  faithful  enough  to  report  im- 
mediately any  mistake  which  may  occur,  shuts  up 
many  sources  of  error  and  danger."  * 

The  strong  and  simple  faith  that  inspired  Dr.  Muhl- 
enberg  shone  out,  conspicuously,  in  another  particular 
connected  with  the  beginning  of  the  Hospital.  On  the 
day  of  the  opening,  after  an.  impressive  sermon  by  the 
Kev.  Dr.  Samuel  Cooke,  a  handsome  collection  was 
taken  up  for  the  support  of  the  house,  but  previous 
to  this,  there  had  not  been  a  dollar  in  hand  for  such 
purpose.  The  responsibility  of  the  Managers,  Mr.  Rob- 
ert B.  Minturn  being  President,  and  Mr.  Adam  Norrie 
Treasurer,  extended  to  all  that  appertained  to  the  cost 
of  the  building  and  the  custody  of  the  permanent  fund, 
of  which  already  there  was  a  small  beginning,  but  ex- 
tended no  further;  and  the  question  had  been  mooted 
of  deferring  the  opening  of  the  Hospital  until  some- 

*  From  Keport  of  Kesident  Physician  and  Surgeon,  1873. 


310  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

thing  like  adequate  means  for  supporting  the  sick  were 
assured. 

"  No !  "  said  Dr.  Muhlenberg,  unhesitatingly ;  "  when 
our  house  is  ready,  let  us  open  wide  its  doors  to  the 
sick  and  needy  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  not  doubting 
he  will  give  us  our  daily  bread."  And,  in  his  heart,  he 
delighted  that  there  was  this  room  for  the  exercise  of 
faith,  and  for  its  corresponding  claim  upon  the  prayers 
and  sympathies  of  all  good  Christian  people.  "  Why," 
he  said  to  an  intimate  friend,  "  a  million  of  dollars  by 
way  of  endowment  just  now  would  kill  us."  He  meant 
as  to  the  divine  life  in  a  devout  waiting  upon  the  Lord, 
on  the  part  of  those  engaged  in  the  work,  which  would 
alone  make  it  the  fountain  of  spiritual  as  well  as  tem- 
poral blessing  that  he  conceived  it  should  be.  Endow- 
ments would  be  desirable  later,  and  he  doubted  not 
would  be  bestowed;  faith  was  the  best  endowment  to 
begin  with. 

In  this  spirit  he  proposed  to  the  Managers  to  assume, 
himself,  all  the  responsibility  as  to  household  expenses 
for  the  first  three  years,  they  undertaking  the  cost  of 
fuel,  insurance  and  other  external  outlays.  This  was 
readily  agreed  to,  and  thus,  besides  the  high  end  which 
prompted  the  arrangement,  Dr.  Muhlenberg  secured  to 
himself  that  freedom  and  independence  in  the  incep- 
tion of  the  work  which  always  seemed  essential  to  him 
whatever  the  "  sphere  of  his  activity." 

His  faith  and  wisdom  were  eminently  justified  in 
the  results.  On  the  evening  of  the  opening  day,  in 
addition  to  the  Chapel  collection  there  arrived  as  a  gift 


THE    JUNIOR   HOSPITAL    ASSOCIATION.  311 

from  one  of  the  Managers  *  a  large  wagon-load  of  sup- 
plies of  all  sorts  for  the  store-room,  the  best  as  to  qual- 
ity and  in  quantities  sufficient  to  last  the  prospective 
household  several  months.  And  so,  at  the  very  outset 
of  actual  service,  there  began  to  flow  into  the  Institu- 
tion that  stream  of  living  charity  which,  fed  from  one 
source  or  another,  has  never  intermitted. 

At  the  anniversary  on  St.  Luke's  Day  1859,  when 
the  first  report  of  current  expenses  was  presented,  it 
was  found  that  the  amount  received  ($15,408.44)  had 
been  enough  to  cover  all  outlays,  and  a  little  over.  Dr. 
Muhlenberg  might  well  thank  God  and  take  courage. 

Among  the  items  that  compose  the  above  total, 
nearly  four  thousand  dollars  appear  to  the  credit  of 
the  Hospital  Associations,  which  in  the  early  days  of 
the  Institution  were  a  most  valuable  auxiliary  and  one 
wholly  after  Dr.  Muhlenberg's  own  heart.  They  con- 
sisted mainly  of  bodies  of  young  men,  formed  in  the 
different  parishes,  for  the  sake  of  searching  out,  bring- 
ing to  the  Hospital,  and  maintaining  while  there,  the 
sick  and  destitute,  either  of  their  respective  churches 
or  wherever  else  found.  The  members  visited  their 
beneficiaries  while  in  the  Hospital,  provided  decent 
Christian  burial  if  they  died,  and  interested  themselves 
to  set  them  on  their  way  again  in  life  if  they  recovered. 

The  Junior  Hospital  Association  of  the  Church  of  the 
Holy  Communion,  formed  under  the  auspices  of  Dr. 
Muhlenberg,  took  the  lead  in  these  organizations,  and 

*  The  late  Mr.  John  H.  Caswell. 


312  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS   MUHLENBERG. 

was  quickly  followed  by  similar  societies  in  other  prom- 
inent parishes. 

Until  St.  Luke's  began  to  have  a  revenue  from  its 
vested  funds  these  associations  were  an  essential  arm 
of  the  service,  furnishing  the  more  reliable  portion  of 
the  annual  income ;  and  the  fact  is  noteworthy  as  show- 
ing what  combination  will  do  towards  so  great  an  end, 
without  any  one  individual  giving  to  an  extraordinary 
amount,  for  the  members  were  ordinarily  young  men, 
just  beginning  to  make  their  way  in  the  world.  Fur- 
ther, to  many  of  these,  this  new  hospital  ministry, 
brought  into  their  lives  a  sanctifying  influence,  never 
hereafter  wholly  dissipated. 

The  revived  spirit  of  charity  diffused  itself  also  in 
other  new  and  beautiful  ways.  Late  one  Sunday  after- 
noon of  the  first  year,  a  lady,  withholding  her  name, 
asked  to  see  the  Sister  in  charge,  expressing  a  desire 
to  be  shown  something  of  the  house.  After  a  brief 
visit  to  the  ward  and  Chapel,  she  took  leave,  and  in 
so  doing,  slipped  a  little  packet  into  the  Sister's  hand, 
saying,  "Something  to  help  your  work."  Opening  it, 
there  were  found  within,  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars 
with  the  words,  "A  thank-offering  for  fifty  years  of 
good  health."  Who  the  donor  was,  never  transpired. 

There  were  costly  and  beautiful,  as  well  as  more 
immediately  useful  gifts  brought  lovingly  to  the  Found- 
er in  the  very  beginning;  chief  among  these  may  be 
named  the  illuminated  Evangelium,  or  manuscript  copy 
of  the  four  Gospels,  executed  by  the  hand  of  Mrs.  Mary 
Elizabeth  Swift,  wife  of  one  of  the  Managers,  and  a 


VALUABLE    GIFTS.  313 

much-loved  friend  and  parishioner.  The  suggestion  of 
this  came  from  Dr.  Muhlenberg,  who  early  discerned 
her  talent  for  such  work.  It  was  a  genuine  labor  of 
pious  affection;  in  size,  of  largest  folio,  such  as  the 
ancient  copies  in  the  British  Museum  and  elsewhere. 
It  is  written  in  large,  clear,  old  English  church-text, 
with  perfect  accuracy  and  uniformity  of  penmanship, 
smooth  and  even  as  copper-plate,  and  embellished  by 
an  unusual  variety  of  original  illuminations.  It  forms 
the  crown  piece  of  the  beautiful  Chapel  of  the  Hospital, 
standing  with  ever-open  page  immediately  under  the 
chancel  cross.  Other  valuable  gifts,  were  a  large  pict- 
ure of  the  Marys  at  the  Sepulchre,  by  Huntingdon;  a 
fine  organ  from  a  member  of  a  Presbyterian  church; 
a  beautiful  silver  communion  service  from  one  lady 
friend;  a  memorial  font  of  Caen  stone  from  another. 
Two  ladies  from  different  parishes  severally  fitted  up, 
very  completely  and  handsomely,  a  large  room  each,  on 
the  first  floor,  for  private  patients,  which  were  designed 
to  yield  some  remuneration  for  the  general  support 
of  the  house.  A  member  of  the  Board  of  Managers 
equipped  the  dispensing  room  and  laboratory  of  the 
apothecary's  department,  both  elaborately  and  expen- 
sively, and  another  friend  embellished  the  exterior  of 
the  building  with  the  stone  figure  of  St.  Luke.  But  to 
do  justice  to  the  influence  of  the  Institution,  in  all 
its  bearings  and  benedictions,  can  not  be  attempted. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

1859-1860. 

Takes  up  his  Abode  in  St.  Luke's. — A  lofty  Prophet's  Chamber.— Ear- 
ly Rising. — Elasticity  and  Strength. — Sixty-three  Years  old. — Sacra 
Privata.—^t.  Luke's  a  Monument.— Pertinent  Words. — The  Metho- 
dist's Prayer. — Evangelical  Catholicity. — Bedside  Ministrations. — Three 
Sketches  by  his  own  Pen. — Religious  Services.— Use  of  the  Prayer 
Book. — Household  Evening  Worship. — Turning  passing  Events  to  Ac- 
count.— Visitors. — Impression  on  Different  Minds. — Sunshine. 

IT  might  be  supposed  that  a  man  of  Dr.  Muhlen- 
berg's  genius  and  position,  after  fairly  launching  his 
Church  Hospital,  would  leave  the  burden  and  care  of 
its  working  to  more  ordinary  hands.  But  such  was  not 
his  way.  As  in  the  freshness  of  early  manhood  he 
merged  his  life  with  that  of  his  boys  in  the  Institute,  so 
now  in  the  culmination  of  his  power  and  influence,  he 
went  to  live  with  his  sick  charge  under  the  roof  of  the 
Hospital.  He  took  up  his  abode  there  in  the  summer 
of  its  first  year,  and  thenceforth  as  Pastor  and  Superin- 
tendent was,  as  has  been  truly  said,  "  The  most  devoted 
servant,  day  and  night,  within  its  kindly  walls." 

He  retained  his  charge  of  the  Church  of  the  Holy 
Communion  for  a  year  or  more,  by  means  of  an  assist- 
ant pastor,  but  subsequently  resigned  all  active  respon- 
sibility in  the  parish;  although  while  his  strength 


PRIMITIVE   HOURS.  315 

lasted  lie  always  conducted  the  early  Christmas  and 
Easter  services. 

In  beginning  his  home  at  the  Hospital,  he  quartered 
himself,  with  an  attendant,  in  the  rooms  adjoining  the 
ward  on  the  third  floor  of  the  western  wing.  The  up- 
per story  of  the  house  was  not  in  demand  for  patients 
for  the  first  two  years,  and  in  these  lofty  prophet  cham- 
bers he  used  to  sleep  and  spend  his  hours  of  retirement. 
He  would  never  be  luxuriously  lodged,  and  had  only 
the  plainest  accommodations  in  these  remote  rooms; 
little,  indeed,  in  addition  to  the  ward  furniture,  except 
his  arm-chair  and  writing-table. 

The  arrangement  proved  very  enjoyable  to  him.  He 
was  within  easy  reach  of  his  work,  and  well  out  of 
reach  of  household  interruptions  when  he  desired  pri- 
vacy, and  the  long  empty  ward,  with  its  large  windows 
presenting  so  broadly  the  sunset  views,  in  which  he 
always  delighted,  made  a  magnificent  ambulatory. 
Nothing  for  the  time,  could  have  suited  him  better. 
Later  he  had  more  becoming  accommodations  on  the 
first  floor;  a  study,  and  bedroom  adjoining,  and  both 
rooms  looking  out  southward,  on  the  Hospital  grounds. 

He  took  his  meals  with  the  Sisters  who  thencefor- 
ward made  his  family,  adopting  their  simple  and  prim- 
itive hours,  i.  e.,  breakfasting  at  half-past  six  all  the 
year  round,  dining  at  half-past  twelve,  and  taking  tea 
at  six,  preparatory  to  the  evening  Chapel  service.  He 
rarely  failed,  summer  or  winter,  to  conduct  the  devo- 
tions which  preceded  the  Sisters'  early  breakfast,  by 
gaslight,  of  course,  in  the  winter  months.  The  early 


316  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

rising  to  which,  he  had  coerced  himself  in  youth,  was 
now  an  established  and  much  enjoyed  habit.  Until  his 
most  advanced  years,  he  was  rarely  in  bed  after  five 
o'clock,  and  when  the  season  permitted,  would  take 
some  out-door  exercise  before  breakfast,  and  might  be 
heard  carolling  a  morning  hymn  in  his  rapid  circuit  of 
the  lawn,  some  time  before  the  Sisters'  prayer-bell  rang. 

The  Hospital  under  his  large  and  loving  spirit  soon 
unfolded  a  world  of  beauty  and  goodness.  "He  him- 
self was  brighter  and  happier,  perhaps,  than  ever  be- 
fore. He  grew  vigorous  in  the  sunshine  of  the  confi- 
dence of  men.  As  they  trusted  him,  his  heart  and 
genius  moved  to  nobler  music,  and  with  more  uniform 
elasticity  and  strength;  his  nature  developed  under 
prosperity,  and  grew  richer  and  more  creative  as  time 
and  years  advanced.  His  sympathies  became  more  and 
more  extensive,  and  his  wisdom  was  more  conspicuous 
as  fame  and  age  came  on."* 

His  private  memoranda  of  this  period  indicate  in- 
creased spiritual  joy  and  peace.  His  wonted  birthday 
record  in  1859  reads : 

"This  day  I  am  sixty-three  years  old, — the  grand 
climacteric.  In  good  health,  with  my  mental  fac- 
ulties unimpaired,  so  far  as  I  can  perceive,  and  the 
Divine  Life  in  my  soul,  I  trust,  nothing  abated.  Nay, 
more  truly  than  ever  before,  I  think  I  can  say,  'The 
life  which  I  now  live  in  the  flesh,  I  live  by  the  faith 
of  the  Son  of  God,  who  loved  me  and  gave  himself  for 

*  Dr.  Harwood. 


"NON  NOB  IS  DOMINE."  317 

me.'  Can  it  be  that  I  am  thus  favored!  However 
others  may,  how  can  I  doubt  the  election  of  grace? 
I  am  overwhelmed  with  gratitude.  Thanks,  thanks, 
thanks,  my  heart  can  utter  nothing  but  thanks  and 
confessions  of  the  unworthiness  of  the  mercies  that 
have  followed  me  all  the  days  of  my  life.  He  gives 
me  himself — he  lives  in  me — I  am  saved.  He  makes 
me  the  instrument  of  his  purposes  towards  others. 
.  .  .  It  is  too  much  to  think  of  myself  as  God's  in- 
strument for  good  but  that  I  know  he  does  use  the 
meanest  as  his  instrument !  Oh  may  I  be  passive  in  his 
hands !  Oh  may  I  be  saved  the  guilt  of  resisting  his 
will !  Since  I  see  nothing  but  sin  in  myself,  and  yet 
good  is  done  by  my  hands,  who  can  it  be  that  does  it  ? 
Here  I  am,  living  in  my  Hospital,  where  every  thing  is 
going  on  beyond  all  expectations.  Daily  evidence  of 
the  Divine  blessing.  Who  has  done — who  is  doing  it  ? 
Non  nobis  Domine,  ex  meo  pectori  clamavi" 
At  another  time: 

"0  Great  Master, 

Let  thy  poor  servant  thus  much  say, 
I'm  docile  in  thy  school.     Not  that  I  vaunt 
^Tyself.     Thy  tender,  patient,  forming  hand 
Hath  made  me  so— the  creature  of  thy  love  ! " 

Again:  "Men  come  and  talk  to  me  of  the  monument 
I  have  erected  in  St.  Luke's.  If  they  knew  how  I  feel, 
they  would  never  utter  such  words  to  me." 

His  was  the  genuine  humility  that  "kneels  in  the 
dust,  but  gazes  on  the  skies."  * 

*  Archer  Butler. 


318  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

A  brother  clergyman,  visiting  him  in  these  days, 
has  a  little  anecdote  referring  to  the  then  frequently 
uttered  compliment  of  St.  Luke's  being  "  a  monument." 
Mr.  R.  had  been  earnestly  talking  with  him  on  church 
matters,  expressing,  in  the  course  of  the  conversation, 
strong  forebodings  as  to  the  result  of  some  recent  ac- 
tion. While  the  two  stood  together,  before  separating, 
under  the  arched  portico  of  the  Hospital,  Mr.  R.  said : 
"This  is  a  great,  a  grand  monument;  I  shall  leave 
nothing  like  it."  "The  prophets  never  do,"  Dr.  Muhl- 
enberg  instantly  rejoined;  "they  are  a  voice  in  the 
wilderness."  "This,"  said  Mr. -R.  in  relating  the  cir- 
cumstance, "was  the  wittiest,  kindest,  sweetest, — and 
receiving  what  I  had  been  saying  as  true, — humblest 
answer,  I  ever  heard." 

The  bright,  pertinent  word  seemed  ever  at  command 
with  him.  A  Sister  came  excitedly  to  his  room  one 
day,  saying:  "Oh!  Dr.  Muhlenberg,  there  is  a  Meth- 
odist minister  making  a  prayer  aloud,  in  the  middle 
of  the  ward."  "Indeed!"  he  replied.  "Make  haste 
back,  my  dear  Sister,  and  stop  the  prayer  before  it  gets 
to  Heaven."  The  prayer  was  an  irregularity  under  a 
rule  of  the  house  made  by  the  Pastor  himself  to  prevent 
a  confusion  of  religious  instruction,  viz.,  "that  clergy- 
men from  outside  visiting,  in  the  wards,  will  confine 
their  ministrations  to  the  patient  they  come  to  visit." 
The  good  Methodist  had  either  not  understood  the  reg- 
ulation, or  was  carried  away  by  his  sympathies;  and 
Dr.  Muhlenberg  sympathized  with  his  prayerful  spirit. 
He  could  go  farther  than  this  in  his  charity.  He  did 


"SHROUDS   HAVE    NO    POCKETS:'1  319 

not  affection  the  visits  of  a  certain  Father to  the 

members  of  his  communion,  accidentally  among  the 
sick,  though,  of  course,  he  permitted  them.  His  objec- 
tion was  not  to  the  administering  of  the  rites  of  their 
church  to  these  poor  people,  but  to  the  priest's  enjoin- 
ing them  to  shut  their  ears  against  the  teaching  of  the 
house.  Nevertheless  he  gave  the  little  father  his  due 
for  much  that  was  good  in  him,  and  very  often  spoke 
with  respect  of  his  faithfulness  and  assiduity  in  look- 
ing after  his  charge. 

It  was  always  a  joy  to  him  to  put  in  action  the  Chris- 
tian brotherhood  with  which  he  was  so  deeply  imbued, 
as  well  as  to  recognize  the  exercise  of  the  same  in 
others.  He  cherished  a  particular  affection  for  Arch- 
bishop Leighton,  in  this  respect.  "  Leighton,"  he  said, 
"was  a  good  Evangelical  Catholic.  Here  is  a  little 
illustration  of  it.  A  friend  one  day  met  the  pious 
prelate  going  to  visit  a  sick  Presbyterian  minister,  on 
a  horse  borrowed  of  a  Roman  Catholic  priest." 

A  valuable  lesson  would  often  be  conveyed  in  pass- 
ing, by  a  forcible  word  or  two,  such  as  that  to  the  Sis- 
ter regarding  the  good  Methodist's  prayer.  To  a  rich 
old  man,  with  whom  he  was  familiar,  and  who  was  one 
of  those  "who  withhold  more  than  is  meet,"  he  said 
grimly,  as  he  turned  away  from  him,  "Shrouds  have 
no  pockets."  Again :  a  newly-entered  patient,  a  rather 
conceited  young  mechanic,  as  soon  as  Dr.  Muhlenberg 
began  to  talk  with  him,  said,  "  I  don't  believe  in  eternal 
punishment."  "I  never  heard  that  that  was  the  first 
article  of  the  Christian  faith,"  was  the  rejoinder,  and 


320  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

thereupon  the  Pastor  pressed  home  to  the  man  the 
cardinal  verities  of  the  Gospel. 

A  Hospital  Sister  relates  the  following,  as  an  example 
of  his  bedside  ministrations:  H.  W.  was  expecting  an 
operation,  which  the  surgeons  had  told  her  might  prove 
fatal.  Dr.  Muhlenberg,  aware  of  the  fact,  came  up  to 
her  the  evening  before,  and  after  some  conversation 
and  prayer,  was  about  to  leave  the  ward,  when  the 
poor  girl  seized  his  hand,  and  said  piteously, 

"  0  Dr.  Muhlenberg !  I  am  so  afraid  I  have  lost  my 
faith — I  feel  as  if  I  never  can  have  strength  for  to- 
morrow." She  waited  breathlessly  to  hear  what  he 
would  say. 

He  put  his  other  hand  over  that  she  held  him  by, 
enfolding  hers  so  tenderly,  and  after  a  moment's  si- 
lence, said, 

"You  know  we  are  to  pray  for  our  daily  bread, 
you  must  not  expect  the  strength  not  needed  till  to- 
morrow to  be  given  to-night.  But,"  he  added  with  a 
bright  look  of  trust  in  his  face,  "  you'll  be  sure  to  get 
the  strength  just  when  it  is  needed." 

And  his  words  proved  prophetic,  for  when  the  next 
day  came,  she  was  wonderfully  sustained,  and  came 
through  the  operation  safely. 

This  part  of  his  Hospital  work  was  remarkable  in 
result,  especially  among  men  and  boys.  We  catch  a 
glimpse  of  his  mode  of  dealing  with  his  charge,  one  by 
one,  in  the  following  delineation  by  his  own  hand  of 
three  several  histories,  as  found  among  his  "Pastoral 
Notes:"' 


AN  ENTIRELY  DIFFERENT  THING.  321 

"H.  G ,  in  his  early  days,  was  used  to  going  to 

the  Sacraments  of  his  church,  but  left  off  as  he  grew 
older,  and  fell  into  evil  ways.  His  sickness  had  made 
him  thoughtful  and  quite  disposed  to  enter  into  seri- 
ous conversation.  He  alluded  freely  to  the  religion 
of  his  youth,  something  more  than  which,  he  said,  he 
now  felt  he  must  have  to  get  peace  of  mind.  Admit- 
ting that  with  all  his  confessing  he  had  never  thought 
of  confessing  to  Christ,  and  of  obtaining  pardon  from 
him,  I  requested  him  to  read  the  Gospels  carefully, 
that  he  might  understand  who  Christ  is,  and  see  in 
him  the  great  Absolver.  He  did  so,  and  expressed  to 
me  his  great  delight  in  becoming  acquainted  with  'the 
Biography  of  Jesus  Christ,'  and  said  that  for  the  most- 
part  it  was  all  new  to  him.  He  was  familiar  with  the 
ceremonies  of  his  church,  and  a  catechism  which  he 
had  been  taught,  but  had  no  idea  of  the  offices  of  the 
Saviour,  of  whom  he  was  now  glad  to  hear  and  read 
for  himself.  On  my  asking  him  some  time  afterwards 
whether  he  thought  it  necessary  now  to  confess  to  a 
priest,  when  he  saw  he  could  go  at  once  to  the  High- 
Priest  himself,  he  again  said,  'It  is  all  new  to  me — it 
is  an  entirely  different  thing.'  The  point  he  was  most 
anxious  to  be  assured  of  was,  whether  what  our  Lord 
spake  to  his  first  disciples  was  meant  for  all  believ- 
ers. Satisfied  of  that,  he  read  the  Evangelists  over 
again,  and  frequently  spoke  of  the  comfort  he  found 
in  doing  it.  His  disease  yielding  to  treatment,  there 
was  a  prospect  of  his  recovery.  For  a  while  he  was 
comparatively  well,  when  he  showed  the  same  desire 
21 


322  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

for  divine  knowledge  and  earnestness  about  his  salva- 
tion as  when  he  supposed  himself  near  his  end." 

"  J.  N.  was  another  who  had  been  brought  up  in  the 
Koman  Catholic  Communion.  He  was  here  several 
months,  gradually  declining  in  consumption,  and  grad- 
ually gaining  a  clear  and  loving  knowledge  of  the 
truth.  Long  before  death  the  fear  of  it  had  gone, 
and  he  would  tell  me  of  his  sweet  dreams  of  heaven, 
and  of  the  Saviour  smiling  on  him,  assuring  him  of  his 
pardon.  Not  doubting  the  genuineness  of  his  faith,  I 
spoke  to  him  of  the  Holy  Communion,  but  he  expressed 
no  desire  to  receive  it.  I  explained  to  him  the  nature 
and  design  of  the  ordinance,  showed  him  the  privilege 
and  benefits  of  remembering  the  Kedeemer  in  the  mode 
of  his  own  enactment,  with  which  all  his  true  followers 
had  ever  gladly  conformed.  N.  admitted  it  all,  but 
when  I  came  to  make  the  application  to  himself,  he 
was  silent.  After  introducing  the  subject  several  times, 
and  with  no  better  success,  I  began  to  suspect  the  cause 
in  a  lingering  attachment  to  his  own  religion,  which 
he  was  not  ready  to  break  with  so  entirely,  as  to  accept 
any  religious  rite  from  a  Protestant  clergyman.  I  told 
him  so,  but  he  would  not  allow  it,  although  I  gave  him 
a  fair  opportunity  to  express  his  mind.  He  said  he 
wanted  no  minister  but  myself,  at  the  same  time  waiv- 
ing the  subject  of  the  Holy  Communion.  Presuming 
on  his  latent  wish,  I  said :  '  Suppose  you  had  here  one 
of  your  former  clergymen,  he  would  not  give  you  the 
whole  Sacrament.'  At  this  he  seemed  amazed,  and 
wondered,  how  it  could  be — upon  which  I  read  to  him 


NOT    THE    WHOLE    SACRAMENT  323 

the  account  of  the  Institution  of  the  Supper,  dwelling 
on  our  Lord's  administration  of  the  cup.  'Your  priest 
would  give  you  no  cup  to  drink  of.'  This  arrested  his 
thoughts — he  was  quiet — but  the  next  morning  he  sent 
me  word  by  the  Sister  of  the  ward,  that  he  would  like 
to  have  the  'Blessed  Sacrament.'" 

"John  P was  a  young  man  of  pleasing  appear- 
ance, of  intelligence  and  general  information  from  hav- 
ing seen  a  great  deal  of  the  world  in  a  seafaring  life 
— withal  far  gone  in  consumption.  I  became  much  in- 
terested in  him  from  frequent  conversations,  in  which 
he  frankly  owned  his  evil  courses,  ascribing  their  be- 
ginning to  a  godless  father  and  brother.  He  had  been 
brought  up  a  Universalist.  As  he  seemed  to  listen  at- 
tentively whenever  I  spoke  to  him  of  his  higher  inter- 
ests, I  was  in  hopes  of  an  early  impression  on  his  mind 
for  good,  but  the  only  reply  I  got  was,  that  what  I  said 
was  all  true,  but  he  did  not  feel  it.  Nevertheless  I  re- 
marked his  serious  deportment  at  the  religious  services 
in  the  wards  and  in  the  Chapel — his  joining  in  the  re- 
sponses and  hymns — so  that  I  continued  to  say  a  fit- 
ting word  at  every  opportunity,  although,  excepting 
by  his  civility,  I  was  not  much  encouraged  to  do  so. 
Indeed  I  found  that  he  would  talk  irreverently  among 
the  patients  of  the  ward,  who  began  to  look  upon  him 
as  an  unbeliever.  Occasionally  too,  he  conducted  him- 
self so  ungraciously  that  we  could  not  help  hinting  to 
him  his  ingratitude.  'You  are  not  happy,'  I  once  said 
to  him.  'I  am  not  wnhappy.'  'Why,  you  know  you 
are  not  long  for  this  world,  and  you  confess  to  no  hope 


324  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

for  another.'  « I  did  not  bring  myself  into  this  world. 
He  that  did  will  take  care  of  me  when  I  leave  it.'  It 
was  thus  he  repelled  my  efforts  whether  with  his  under- 
standing or  his  heart.  When  the  Kedeemer  was  set 
before  him,  he  was  silent,  but  still  seemed  unmoved. 
In  April  he  had  gained  so  much  on  his  disease  that 
he  believed  he  had  only  to  go  into  the  country  to  be 
entirely  well.  Accordingly  he  left  the  Hospital;  but 
about  the  middle  of  May  returned  and  asked  to  be  ad- 
mitted again.  He  was  sadly  changed  for  the  worse. 
He  had  missed  his  nourishing  food,  the  equitable  tem- 
perature of  the  ward,  and  his  comfortable  bed.  Evi- 
dently he  was  glad  to  be  once  more  here,  but  he  did 
not  say  so.  A  day  or  two  after,  conversing  with  him, 
and  thinking  he  showed  a  more  subdued  manner,  I 
said,  'Well,  John,  you  now/eeZ  as  well  as  allow  what 
I  say?'  'Not  more  than  I  ever  did.'  'Do  you  desire 
to  feel?'  'I  don't  know.'  'Do  you  ever  pray  that  you 
may?'  'It  is  of  no  use.'  'You  seem  to  join  in  the 
services  here,  you  kneel  down  with  the  rest  and  re- 
peat the  prayers.'  'I  do  it  out  of  respect  to  the  place.' 
At  another  time  reminding  him  how  fast  his  disease 
was  advancing — 'I  can't  alter  that,'  he  said.  'I  am 
not  afraid  to  die.'  The  weeks  passed  on,  making  no 
change  in  him  for  the  better,  so  far  as  I  could  see, 
when  I  was  inclined  to  desist  lest  I  should  be  the  oc- 
casion of  only  hardening  still  more  the  unhappy  youth 
in  his  impenitence.  One  morning,  early  in  June,  I 
went  up  to  his  bed,  after  I  had  been  talking  to  the 
patients  over  a  chapter,  and  said,  'You  have  heard, 


"/  GIVE    UP."  325 

John.'  'Yes,'  he  replied,  with  emotions  that  I  had  not 
seen  before;  'yes,'  his  eyes  filled  with  tears,  'I  give  up' 
— and  give  up  he  did.  The  change  was  wonderful. 
He  was  all  humility.  He  confessed  he  felt  all  along 
what  I  said,  but  was  too  proud  to  own  it ;  that  he  had 
often  lain  awake  at  night  thinking  of  my  words.  He 
did  not  now  need  to  be  taught  the  way  of  salvation. 
He  clearly  understood  it.  He  threw  himself  wholly 
upon  Christ,  yet  wondering  how  so  obstinate  a  sinner 
could  be  accepted.  He  suspected  the  genuineness  of 
his  repentance,  said  he  had  never  believed  in  death- 
bed conversion,  but  that  was  all  that  was  now  possi- 
ble. He  hoped  it  was  sincere,  which  he  said  with  so 
much  humility  and  self-condemnation  that  I  could  not 
help  encouraging  him  to  believe  what  he  hoped.  He 
asked  for  baptism,  and  though  he  had  not  left  his  bed 
for  days,  he  insisted  on  going  into  the  Chapel  to  re- 
ceive it.  4He  knew  he  would  have  strength  for  it,' 
and  he  had.  The  scene  was  touching,  as  he  sat  by 
the  font,  his  dark,  bright  eyes  glistening  with  tears 
and  wistfully  glancing  towards  his  relatives  whom, 
for  their  own  good,  he  had  wished  to  be  present.  The 
nurse  who  had  been  his  aifectionate  mentor  all  along, 
sure  he  would  be  right  at  last,  and  some  of  his  fellow- 
patients,  stood  by  weeping  more  with  joy  than  grief 
at  the  sight.  A  day  or  two  after  he  received  the  Holy 
Communion  in  bed.  He  joined  in  the  service  with 
an  intensity  of  devotion  in  his  manner  and  tones  of 
voice  that  was  most  affecting.  When  it  was  over  he 
said  he  knew  now  what  Bunyan  meant  by  the  load 


326  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

falling  off  from  the  Pilgrim's  back.  He  gradually  sank, 
bearing  with  great  patience  his  last  sufferings,  and 
expired,  I  must  believe,  in  the  peace  of  the  Gospel." 

Dr.  Muhlenberg's  ministrations  in  the  Chapel,  as  long 
as  he  retained  his  vigor,  had,  in  their  way,  the  same 
power  and  pathos  as  those  of  the  Church  of  the  Holy 
Communion;  and  their  effect  upon  the  ever-chang- 
ing congregation  was  remarkable,  quite  irrespective 
of  the  "persuasion"  of  the  worshipper.  He  used  to 
call  the  wards  opening  into  the  Chapel  on  either 
floor,  the  "long  drawn  aisles"  of  his  cathedral,  and 
claimed  that  by  means  of  their  successive  occupants,  he 
preached  the  Gospel,  in  the  aggregate,  to  many  more 
souls  than  did  the  rectors  of  the  largest  city  churches. 

Without  being  in  the  least  a  propagandist,  he  made 
a  multitude  of  converts  to  the  Episcopal  Church,  nat- 
urally, by  the  living  force  of  the  truth  he  preached,  and 
his  wonderful  way  of  adapting  the  Liturgy  to  their 
needs,  so  making  them  love  it  for  the  help  they  found 
in  it.  No  one  ever  knew  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer 
as  he  did,  or  understood  so  admirably  how  to  use  it. 
And  thus  Baptists,  Presbyterians,  Methodists,  Eoman 
Catholics  even,  accepted  his  teachings,  adopted  his 
ways,  and  rarely  left  the  Hospital  without  asking  for 
a  Prayer  Book  to  take  with  them. 

The  Sunday  services  in  the  Chapel  were  those  of 
an  ordinary  Episcopal  congregation,  excepting  some 
abridgment  of  the  morning  office,  in  charitable  con- 
sideration of  the  feebleness  of  most  of  those  engaged 
in  it.  There  were  regular  monthly  communions,  and 


EVENING    CHAPEL    SERVICE.  327 

an  early  communion  every  Sunday  for  the  Sisters,  arid 
many  an  inexpressibly  solemn  and  affecting  ward  com- 
munion, usually  at  twilight,  when  there  would  be  most 
security  from  interruptions.  Naturally  there  were  nu- 
merous baptisms,  and  from  time  to  time  the  adminis- 
tration of  the  rite  of  confirmation  under  very  pathetic 
circumstances. 

The  week-day  morning  devotions,  besides  those  for 
the  servants  and  among  the  Sisters  in  their  respective 
quarters,  consisted  of  Scripture  reading  and  brief  ex- 
positions, with  hymns  and  prayers  in  each  several  ward. 
But  in  the  evening,  all  the  household,  of  every  degree, 
who  could  possibly  be  present,  assembled  in  the  Chapel 
for  worship ;  the  great  outer  doors  of  the  house  being 
closed,  and  the  doors  of  the  Chapel  opening  into  the 
wards  wide  open,  so  that  those  who  could  not  leave 
their  beds  might  fully  join  in  the  service. 

There  were  many  who  used  to  think  this  the  "  love- 
liest hour  of  the  day."  Dr.  Muhlenberg's  grand  voice, 
as  he  stood  at  the  lectern,  placed  in  the  centre  of  the 
Chapel  and  midway  between  the  long  wards  on  either 
side  of  the  same  floor,  reached  to  the  end  of  these  and 
into  the  wings  beyond.  Every  word  he  said  could  be 
distinctly  heard  by  the  sick  lying  in  the  remotest  bed 
of  either  ward,  one  of  which  was  occupied  by  men, 
the  other  by  women,  and  the  distance  from  end  to  end 
being  nearly  three  hundred  feet.  This  was  due  in  part 
to  the  acoustic  properties  incident  to  the  form  of  the 
building.  Yet  it  has  not  been  a  common  experience, 
no  clergyman,  indeed,  except  Dr.  Muhlenberg,  having 


328  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

habitually,  and  without  effort,  made  his  voice  heard  at 
these  distances. 

The  central  Chapel  thus  connecting  with  the  wards 
he  esteemed  the  choicest  feature  of  his  Hospital  Church ; 
and  when  plans  were  under  consideration  for  the  erec- 
tion of  an  Episcopal  hospital  in  a  neighboring  city,  he 
ardently  urged  a  similar  arrangement.  A  committee 
of  gentlemen  interested  in  the  proposed  work,  visited 
St.  Luke's  to  see  if  they  could  learn  any  thing  of  value 
to  them.  They  had  determined  not  to  put  their  chapel 
in  the  centre  of  the  wards,  but  quite  apart  from  them, 
and  Dr.  Muhlenberg  appreciating  what  they  would 
thus  lose,  eagerly  combated  their  plan.  A  good  old 
woman  in  a  bed  near  to  which  the  gentlemen  stood 
as  they  talked  together,  asked  as  they  went  away, 
"  what  it  was  all  about."  The  Sister  explained.  "  Oh, 
run  quick,  Sister,"  she  said,  "  and  tell  them  they'll  make 
a  great  big  mistake  if  they  don't  put  the  chapel  in  the 
midst."  None  can  so  appreciate  the  blessing  of  a  cen- 
tral hospital  chapel  as  patients  confined  continuously 
to  their  beds. 

The  Chapel  evening  service  was  family  prayer.  Not 
the  priest  in  his  surplice  at  the  altar,  but  the  House- 
father in  his  ordinary  garb,  at  the  central  desk,  amidst 
his  children.  The  worship  consisted  of  a  chant,  a  se- 
lected Scripture  lesson,  a  hymn,  and  prayers,  written 
or  extemporaneous,  as  best  suited  the  occasion.  There 
was  always  an  admirable  harmony  in  the  different  parts 
of  this  service,  and  many  an  unspoken  sermon  in  Dr. 
Muhlenberg's  perfect  reading  of  the  Scripture  passage, 


SENSE    OF  APPROPRIATENESS.  329 

suggested  perhaps  by  some  circumstance  of  the  time. 
And  the  soft,  rich  organ,  directed  by  his  delicate  mu- 
sical sentiment  would  give  forth  just  the  sounds  ac- 
cordant to  the  reading  and  prayers. 

This  fine  intelligent  sense  of  appropriateness,  which 
marked  every  service  he  conducted,  was  probably  one 
secret  of  the  power  of  Dr.  Muhlenberg's  ministrations. 
He  was  not  what  would  be  called  "a  great  preach- 
er," but  standing  in  his  transparent  reality  and  simple 
unworldly  dignity  and  earnestness  at  the  plain  desk, 
which  he  always  preferred  to  the  pulpit  proper,  he 
was  as  a  veritable  prophet  of  God  in  his  intuitions 
then  and  there,  of  the  thoughts  and  feelings  of  those 
gathered  before  him,  and  in  his  power  of  bringing 
home  to  their  hearts  the  lesson  of  the  moment. 

For  want  of  a  better  example,  we  may  take  the  fol- 
lowing as  slightly  illustrative :  It  was  after  the  burning 
of  the  Crystal  Palace  with  the  treasures  of  the  Inter- 
national Exhibition  gathered  within  it.  The  building 
stood  in  Forty-second  Street,  and,  of  course,  all  the 
household  were  aware  of  the  conflagration.  Without 
making  any  direct  allusion  to  the  event,  Dr.  Muhlexi- 
berg  read  with  a  deep  arresting  solemnity,  a  portion  of 
the  eighteenth  chapter  of  the  Book  of  the  Eevelations, 
describing  the  great  city — Babylon,  "Utterly  burned 
with  fire" — "In  one  hour  made  desolate" — "The  mer- 
chandize of  gold,  and  silver,  and  precious  stones,  and 
of  pearls,  and  fine  linen,  and  purple,  and  silk  and 
scarlet,  and  all  manner  of  vessels  of  most  precious 
wood,  and  of  brass,  and  iron,  and  marble" — "In  one 


330  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

hour  so   great  riches  is  come  to  nought" 

The  transition  of  thought  to  the  day  when  the  earth 
and  all  that  is  therein  shall  be  burned  up,  was  ir- 
resistible, and  the  succeeding  hymn '  and  prayers  led 
all  hearts  to  seek  to  be  prepared  for  that  inevitable 
hour. 

The  Hospital  early  attracted  many  visitors.  It  be- 
came one  of  the  sights  of  the  metropolis,  and  persons 
of  distinction,  and  other  strangers,  passing  through 
the  city,  rarely  failed  to  take  St.  Luke's  on  their  way. 
The  house,  and  its  remarkable  Founder,  impressed  all 
who  came  in  contact  with  it,  from  the  noblemen  of  the 
Prince  of  Wales's  suite,  to  the  humble  friends  of  the 
poorest  patient,  as  unlike  any  thing  they  had  ever  seen. 

A  Kussian  physician  of  high  rank,*  after  a  profes- 
sional examination  of  the  work,  said  to  Dr.  Muhlen- 
berg:  "I  find  here,  Sir,  nothing  of  the  hospital,  but  a 
palatial  residence  which  you  have  generously  built  for 
the  accommodation  of  your  unfortunate  friends  in  their 
sickness;"  and  the  same  thought,  possibly,  though  in 
homelier  phrase,  was  expressed  by  a  poor  sick  girl  on 
her  admission,  who  had  shrunk  with  horror,  from  the 
idea  of  an  institution.  As  the  porters  carried  her 
through  the  house  to  her  allotted  place,  she  turned 
her  eyes  scrutinizingly  in  all  directions,  and  then, 
with  a  sigh  of  relief,  said  to  the  Sister  accompanying 
her,  "It  doesn't  look  a  bit  lonesome."  Many  a  poor 

*  Dr.  de  Haurowitz.  "Conseiller  intime  de  S.  M.  I'Empereur  de 
toutes  les  Hussies.  Inspecteur  Gdnerale  de  1'tftat  sanitaire  de  la  Ma- 
rine Impe'riale. " 


SUNSHINE.  331 

sufferer,  indeed,  on  being  taken  into  the  quiet  ward 
with  its  wide,  comfortable  beds,  neatly  curtained  to 
afford  privacy  when  desired,  and  the  soft,  ambient  air, 
making  in  its  equableness,  perpetual  summer,  has  said, 
"It's  like  heaven." 

The  repose,  purity,  and  sunshiny  comfort  of  the 
house,  first  strike  a  visitor.  The  atmosphere,  as  fresh 
and  sweet  as  that  of  a  well-kept  private  dwelling,  re- 
sults in  part  from  the  refined  cleanliness  everywhere 
maintained ;  but  not  less  from  the  excellent  natural 
ventilation,  and  again  from  the  continual  freshening 
of  the  heat  radiating  from  the  steam  coils  of  the  hot 
air  chambers  in  the  basement,  by  means  of  cold  air 
constantly  flowing  in  through  ducts  from  the  outside. 
A  nearer  approach  to  solar  heat  than  any  other  method 
of  artificial  warming. 

"  Fresh  Air,  Good  Food,  and  Sunshine,"  Dr.  Muhlen- 
berg  used  to  call  "our  grand  faculty  of  three."  Com- 
bined with  the  material  sunshine,  streaming  in  through 
the  lofty  multitudinous  windows,  was  the  sunniness  of 
Dr.  Muhlenberg's  own  nature,  as  a  strong  element  in 
the  predominating  cheerfulness  of  the  house.  And 
this  was  reflected,  more  or  less,  on  the  part  of  all  asso- 
ciated with  him  in  the  service.  As  in  his  other  un- 
dertakings, he  was  himself  the  centre  and  heart  of 
the  work.  The  school-father  of  other  days  was  now 
the  tender,  loving,  condescending  house-father  of  St. 
Luke's;  and  with  the  same  unselfish,  unstinting  care 
and  sympathy  for  all  beneath  his  roof,  gentle  or  simple, 
the  sick  people  or  those  who  served  them.  With  pa- 


332  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

tient  devotion  he  threw  himself  into  "every  body's" 

needs  and  wishes.     When  Lord  H and  Dr.  A 

of  the  prince's  party,  in  the  visit  of  that  royal  per- 
sonage to  this  country,  attended  service  in  the  Hospi- 
tal Chapel,  there  was  great  excitement  throughout  the 
house  for  a  sight  of  the  prince  himself;  this  was  not 
surprising,  considering  the  furor  for  royalty  with  which 
the  whole  city  seemed  possessed,  as  though  deep  down 
in  the  republican  heart  there  was,  after  all,  a  latent 
idolatry  of  the  crown.  Dr.  Muhlenberg  threw  him- 
self kindly  into  the  general  feeling,  and  good-nat- 
uredly endeavored  to  procure  the  coveted  sight  for 
some  most  desiring  it.  A  young  Sister  was  unusually 
excited  on  the  subject.  He  entered  into  her  disap- 
pointment while  kindly  turning  the  edge  of  it — "  Sister, 
'Thine  eyes  shall  see  the  King  in  his  beauty.'" 


CHAPTER  XX. 

1860-1863. 

An  Episode. — Abhorrence  of  Slavery. — Fugitive  Slave  Law. — Free  Soil 
Question. — Republican  Battle  Hymn. — Votes  for  Mr.  Lincoln.— Tri. 
umph. — Bombardment  of  Fort  Sumter. — Shock  felt  in  St.  Luke's. — 
Response  to  Call  for  Volunteers. — Resident  Physician  and  Surgeon 
enlisted.— Other  Enlistments  from  Hospital.— Interest  in  his  Soldier 
Boys. — National  Hymn  and  Choral  March.— A  Christmas  Morning 
Address. — A  Hundred  Thousand  Men  to  be  drafted. — Riots. — Col- 
ored Orphan  Asylum  burned.— St.  Luke's  threatened. — Two  Days  of 
Peril.— Dr.  Muhlenberg  and  the  Rioters.— The  Vigilance  Committee. 
— President's  Proclamation  for  a  General  Thanksgiving. — The  Presi- 
dent's Hymn. 

THE  election  of  Abraham  Lincoln  as  president  of  the 
United  States,  was  an  event  of  great  interest  to  Dr. 
Muhlenberg,  and  through  some  of  its  issues  formed  a 
rather  remarkable  episode,  both  in  his  own  life  and  in 
that  of  the  Hospital. 

He  never  gave  himself  to  politics,  as  such.  But  the 
cause  of  the  slave  had  always  been  sacred  with  him, 
though  not  to  taking  part  in  the  methods  of  the  early 
abolitionists.  The  Dred-Scott  decision,  and  the  passing 
of  the  Fugitive  Slave  Law,  moved  him  deeply.  He  had 
been  used,  from  time  to  time,  to  help  over  the  border 
one  and  another  poor  fugitive  who  found  him  out,  and 
of  late  years  had  been  assisted  in  this  by  a  noble- 


334  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS   MUHLENBERG. 

minded  Sister,  who,  having  inherited  a  fortune  from 
slave-holding  ancestors,  delighted  in  an  opportunity  of 
any  thing  like  restitution.  So  when  this  law  passed, 
commanding  all  good  citizens  to  aid  in  the  arrest  of  all 
such  fugitives,  he,  in  company  with  many  others,  was 
disgusted  and  indignant. 

From  his  youth  he  entertained  a  deep-seated  abhor- 
rence of  slavery.  In  a  sermon  preached  in  Philadel- 
phia in  1820,  on  the  death  of  two  missionaries  from 
African  fever,  though  only  twenty-four  years  old,  and 
long  before  slavery  had  become  the  subject  of  political 
agitation,  or  even  of  secular  discussion,  he  condemns 
it  on  high  moral  grounds  as  "an  immense  national 
evil,"  at  the  same  time  glancing  at  the  danger  of  the 
element  in  the  event  of  civil  discord. 

Following  the  Fugitive  Slave  Law  came  the  so-called 
"  Free  Soil "  question.  Dr.  Muhlenberg  entered  eagerly 
into  its  merits,  so  much  so,  that,  during  the  ensuing 
presidential  election,  he  composed  and  made  the  music 
for  a  spirited  election  song,  or  "Kepublican  Battle 
Hymn,"  thinking  to  publish  it  in  furtherance  of  the 
cause.  Upon  reflection  he  refrained  from  doing  this, 
and  laid  the  composition  quietly  aside  among  his 
papers,  with  the  following  memorandum: 

"  This  remains  as  an  evidence  of  the  zeal  I  felt  for 
the  election  of  Mr.  Lincoln.  The  vote  I  gave  I  have 
not  yet  repented  of  (Nov.  29th,  1861),  but  I  allowed 
myself  to  be  more  interested  in  politics  than  was  good 
for  me." 

The  subjoined  is  the  hymn  which   has  never  until 


MR.    LINCOLN'S   ELECTION.  335 

now  appeared  in  print,  and  as  a  part  of  Dr.  Muhlen- 
berg's  history  ought  not  to  be  lost. 

"ON  FOR  FREEDOM. 

11 A  Republican  Battle  Hymn,  written  for  the  Presidential  Election  of  1860. 

"Freemen,  now's  your  day  for  doing; 

Grand  the  issues  in  your  hand; 
Bisk  them  not  by  faint  pursuing, 
Peal  the  watchword  through  the  land — 

On  for  Freedom, 
God,  our  Country,  and  the  Eight. 

"Not  with  arms  of  deadly  rattle, 

Nor  with  bribe  or  trick  the  fight; 
All  we  ask  is  honest  battle; 
Armed  enough  with  Truth  and  Light. 
On  for  Freedom,  etc. 

"'Might  is  Eight,'  let  them  assever, 

Who  have  learned  the  tyrant's  creed; 
Eight  is  Might,  our  creed  forever, 
True  in  purpose,  firm  in  deed. 
On  for  Freedom,  etc. 

"What  tho'  Slavery  hold  its  quarters, 

There  to  have  its  fated  reign; 
Not,  in  all  our  lands  and  waters, 
Not  an  inch  of  new  domain. 
On  for  Freedom,  etc. 

"By  our  Mountains,  Heavenward  reaching, 

Field  and  forest  without  bound, 
By  the  free  waves,  round  us  preaching. 
Here,  God  meant  no  bondage  ground- 
On  for  Freedom,  etc. 


336  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

"By  our  Banner's  Constellation, 

By  our  Eagle  in  the  skies, 
By  our  Father's  Proclamation, 
By  their  spirit  and  their  cries — 
On  for  Freedom,  etc. 

"On  for  Freedom!  on,  victorious! 

Hail  anew  our  Empire's  day, 
Hail  the  flag,  and  Union  glorious, 
Triumphing  in  righteous  sway. 

On  for  Freedom, 
God,  our  Country,  and  our  Eight." 

His  journal  has  the  following  minutes  of  the  election : 

"  Tuesday,  Nov.  6th,  1860.  Went  early  to  vote  for 
Lincoln  at  Sixty-first  Street  and  Second  Avenue,  but 
finding  I  should  have  to  wait  some  hours  before  my 

turn  would  come,  returned.  In  the  afternoon  "W 

came  for  me,  and  I  tried  it  again.  By  the  favor  of 
the  police,  I  got  in  by  the  exit  door,  the  crowd  as- 
senting to  this  in  that  I  was  an  'old  man.'  So  I  did 
my  duty,  as  I  felt  and  believed  it  was.  I  am  no 
party  politician,  but  I  am  much  interested  in  the 
success  of  the  Bepublicans  as  opposed  to  slavery.  I 
have  not  voted  for  years  before,  and  but  seldom  in 
my  life." 

"  Wednesday,  Nov.  7th.  Lincoln  elected !  huzza !  I 
am  glad  I  share  in  the  victory.  And  why  ?  I  have  no 
interest  in  the  Kepublican  success,  save  that  I  believe 
it  a  triumph  of  humanity — of  principle — over  mammon." 

Few  were  unaware  of  the  threats  of  the  South  as  to 
secession,  and  a  resort  to  arms  in  case  Mr.  Lincoln 


VOLUNTEERS  FOR    THE    WAR.  337 

should  be  elected,  and  although  between  the  latter's 
election  and  his  inauguration,  an  independent  con- 
federacy declared  itself,  with  a  provisional  president 
at  its  head,  the  nation  at  large  continued  to  believe  it 
impossible  that  the  Union  in  this  nineteenth  century 
should  be  plunged  in  the  horrors  of  internecine  war. 
The  bombardment  of  Fort  Sumter,  on  the  12th  of  April, 
1861,  was  as  the  shock  of  an  earthquake  throughout 
the  North,  and  profoundly  felt  even  within  the  quiet 
walls  of  St.  Luke's  Hospital.  Many  hearts  stood  still 
with  awe.  Quickly  following  this,  on  the  19th  of  the 
same  month,  was  the  assault  in  the  streets  of  Baltimore 
on  the  6th  Massachusetts  Kegiment,  and  the  first  blood 
was  spilt.  Then  all  knew  it  meant  deadly  conflict, 
and  there  was  an  instant  rebound.  The  war  spirit 
spread  like  wild-fire  throughout  the  land.  The  presi- 
dent's call  for  seventy-five  thousand  men  was  answered 
by  three  times  that  number,  and  among  these  first 
volunteers  were  the  resident  physician  of  St.  Luke's,* 
and  also,  most  unexpectedly  to  Dr.  Muhlenberg,  three 
young  men  of  the  Institution,  recent  convalescents,  in 
whom  he  had  taken  the  deepest  spiritual  interest,  and 
for  two  of  whom  he  entertained  a  peculiar  regard. 

He  had  not  the  remotest  idea  of  their  intention 
beforehand.  They  offered  themselves  for  enlistment  on 

*  The  late  patriotic  and  noble-minded  Dr.  Edward  B.  Dalton, 
who  became  Inspector  of  the  Medical  Department  of  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac,  and  Chief  Medical  Officer  of  Depot  Field  Hospitals. 
Later,  he  was  Medical  Director  of  the  Ninth  Corps  and  Brevet 
Colonel  of  Volunteers. 


338  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

a  Sunday  evening,  and  all  three  agreed  that  it  was  the 
Doctor's  manner  of  reading  the  first  lesson  in  Chapel 
that  morning  which  incited  them  to  take  the  step.  It 
was  the  third  Sunday  after  Easter,  and  the  appointed 
lesson  for  the  day  was  from  the  Prophet  Joel,  the  third 
chapter,  beginning  at  the  ninth  verse.  With  the  mil- 
itary ardor  everywhere  prevailing,  penetrating  the  land 
to  its  remotest  and  most  peaceful  haunts,  it  is  not  sur- 
prising that  "the  boys"  were  stirred  by  the  opening 
words  of  the  lesson,  read  as  Dr.  Muhlenberg  would 
read  them:  "Prepare  war,  wake  up  the  mighty  men, 
let  all  the  men  of  war  draw  near,  let  them  come  up. 
Beat  your  ploughshares  into  swords,  and  your  pruning 
hooks  into  spears,  let  the  weak  say,  I  am  strong." 

Only  those  who  ever  heard  Dr.  Muhlenberg  read  the 
Scriptures  can  appreciate  all  that  might  be  conveyed, 
under  the  circumstances,  by  this  passage  of  Holy  Writ. 
"  A  chapter  of  the  Bible  read  by  Dr.  Muhlenberg,"  said 
one,  "instructs  me  more  than  a  sermon." 

Dr.  Muhlenberg's  journal  contains  some  interesting 
memoranda  in  connection  with  these  young  volunteers : 

"April  23d,  1861.  A  new  thing  in  my  life.  Parted 
with  three  of  my  sons  in  the  Lord  for  the  war — A., 
S.,  and  H.  On  Sunday  evening  the  three  had  leave 

to  go  to  a  lecture  by  our  former  patient,  M ,  a 

convert  from  Eomanism.  Between  nine  and  ten  o'clock 
they  came  into  my  room,  Dr.  Cruse  being  with  me,  to 
say  they  had  enlisted.  I  reproved  them  very  sharply 
for  having  done  so  without  speaking  to  me.  They 
went  away  rather  crestfallen,  having  expected  I  would 


A    BAPTISM.  339 

only  applaud  their  patriotism.  Next  morning  I  saw 
them  one  by  one,  telling  them  if  they  had  spoken  their 
wishes  to  me,  I  would  have  held  them  only  till  I  could 
see  what  regiment  would  be  best  for  them.  However, 
of  course  they  should  have  my  blessing.  ..." 

He  thought  none  of  them  sufficiently  robust  for  the 
service,  but  they  said  they  were  "all  right,"  and  be- 
sides, did  he  not  read  from  the  Bible,  "Let  the  weak 
say,  I  am  strong"?  They  had  the  best  of  the  argu- 
ment. "They  went  to  their  regiment,"  Dr.  Muhlenberg 
writes,  (Col.  Duryea's  Advance  Guard)  "to  drill,  and 
in  the  evening  came  back,  leave  for  which  they  ob- 
tained with  difficulty,  but  S.  wanted  to  be  baptized.  I 
had  often  spoken  to  him  on  the  subject,  but  he  was  to 
ask  for  it  himself,  as  he  now  did.  I  had  some  talk  with 
him  till  near  eleven,  and  put  a  gold  cross  around  his 
neck  to  be  worn  next  his  person.  He  kissed  me  fer- 
vently. The  next  morning  he  was  in  my  room  earlier 
than  usual  for  his  accustomed  duties.  At  six  o'clock  I 
baptized  him  in  the  Chapel,  A.  and  HM  his  brother 
volunteers  standing  as  witnesses.  Then  I  breakfasted 
with  the  three  in  the  housekeeper's  room,  and  a  little 
later  they  were  gone — the  Sisters  and  others  of  the 
household  detaining  them  awhile  in  the  corridor  with 
their  farewells." 

In  view  of  the  costly  sacrifices  which  the  war  de- 
manded of  those  united  to  the  soldier  by  the  nearest 
and  dearest  ties,  the  foregoing  may  seem  hardly  worth 
recording,  for  the  three  newly  enlisted  were  of  humble 
station,  and  two  of  them,  at  least,  with  no  nearer  home 


340  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

ties  than  those  of  the  Hospital.  But  such  was  Dr. 
Muhlenberg's  life  in  those  days,  and,  as  already  shown, 
any  youth,  however  obscure,  whose  heart  he  could 
touch  spiritually,  became  forthwith  to  him  a  dear 
child.  Certainly  he  took  scarcely  less  than  an  own  fa- 
ther's interest  in  all  that  concerned  these  three  youths, 
thus  sent  on  their  perilous  way.  He  followed  them 
throughout  their  term  of  service  with  parental  solici- 
tude, sent  them  clothing  and  other  supplies,  and  wrote 
constantly  to  the  chaplain  of  the  regiment  regarding 
their  highest  interests,  for  which  he  greatly  feared, 
amid  the  demoralizing  influences  of  camp  life. 

The  regiment  was  stationed  for  a  month  at  Fort 
Schuyler,  and  Dr.  Muhlenberg  drove  out  there  with 
some  friends  to  see  the  boys  on  the  eve  of  their 
final  departure.  He  took  them  excellent  marching 
shoes,  and  other  fatherly  gifts.  Some  of  the  men 
carried  fine  revolvers.  Dr.  M.  notes:  "S.  did  not  ask 
me  for  one,  and  I  could  not,  in  conscience,  offer  it.  I 
leave  him  with  such  weapons  as  the  government  puts 
into  his  hands.  .  .  .  ."  "We  saw  the  batallioii 
drill,"  he  adds,  "with  which  the  ladies  were  highly 
gratified.  The  show  had  not,  for  me,  even  a  tran- 
sient charm." 

Later,  he  writes:  "This  war,  this  war!  How  do  I 
feel  about  it  ?  Alternately  with  horror,  and  then  with 
a  conviction  that  it  is  so  righteous,  I  am  glad  to  have 
my  boys  in  it.  It  ought  not  to  cost  me  nothing.  .  .  . 
The  whole  city  is  wild  with  a  military  delirium.  I  have 
always  been  almost  a  Quaker;  but  I  have  fallen  into  the 


UNION,    LAW,    AND    LIBERTY.  341 

universal  sentiment — that  there  must  be  fighting,  at 
least  in  defence  of  the  government,  the  Capital  must  be 
held.  .  .  .  But  oh,  the  demoniacal  passions  which 
the  war  spirit  engenders — -I  falter  in  the  thought.  But 
if  ever  there  was  a  just  war,  this  is  one.  For  our 
country,  and  against  the  slave  power — that  curse  which 
proclaims  that  it  means  to  be  perpetual !  If  the  war 
relieves  the  country  of  that,  I  shall  rejoice,  should  all 
my  boys  fall  in  battle." 

They  all  came  safely  through  the  service,  however, 
but  not  without  some  honorable  wounds. 

The  spirit  of  the  Christian  patriot  was  stronger  within 
Dr.  Muhlenberg  than  he  knew.  In  the  year  that  his 
boys  went  to  the  front,  and  perhaps  stimulated  uncon- 
sciously by  that  fact,  he  took  the  music  of  the  dis- 
carded election  hymn,  given  on  a  previous  page,  and 
wrote  some  stirring  verses  fitted  to  its  measure,  which 
he  called  a  "National  Hymn  and  Choral  March."  This 
was  printed  in  one  of  the  church  papers  of  the  time, 
but  in  the  multitude  of  war  lyrics  that  then  came 
into  being,  quickly  passed  out  of  sight.  The  piece  is 
dated  September,  1861.  The  music  was  arranged  for 
men's  voices. 

"NATIONAL  HYMN  AND  CHORAL  MARCH. 
"Praise  to  his  right  hand  that  made  us— 

Nation,  Soil,  and  Empire  One, 
And  while  that  right  hand  shall  aid  us, 

Spoil  the  hallowed  work  shall  none. 
•  God  be  nigh, 

Speed  the  cry— 
Union,  Law,  and  Liberty! 


342  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

"Heirs  of  freedom,  could  we  cower? 

Give  the  way  to  traitor  rage? 
Stand  and  see  a  slave-born  power, 
Bend  our  glorious  heritage? 
God  be  nigh,  etc. 

"This  we've  armed  for,  not  defiant, 

Not  athirst  for  vengeful  strife, 
But  on  Duty's  sword  reliant, 
Strike  we  for  the  Nation's  life. 
God  be  nigh,  etc. 

"Conflict  dire— yet  heaven's  probation, 

Bracing  into  one  our  might: 
Strength  is  born  of  tribulation; 
Eight  is  sure  to  come  out  right. 
God  be  nigh,  etc. 

"To  the  Lord  of  Hosts,  hosanna ! 

Rebel  madness,  pray  him  cease : 
Make  undimmed  our  starlit  banner. 
Float  again  o'er  realms  of  peace. 
God  be  nigh,  etc, 

"Praise  him,  praise  him,  ever  giving, 

First  or  last,  the  just  award: 
Praise  him,  praise  him,  ever  living 
Our  sole  King  and  Sovereign  Lord. 
God  be  nigh, 
Speed  the  cry- 
Union,  Law,  and  Liberty—" 

With  this  spirited  martial  hymn  should  be  named  his 
constant,  unfeigned  sympathy  with  the  inevitable  suf- 
fering of  the  war,  in  whichever  section  of  the  land. 
In  the  Chapel,  at  the  evening  household  service,  there 


THE    GOSPEL    OF  PEACE.  343 

was  the  never  omitted  remembrance  of  the  wounded, 
the  bereaved,  the  stricken,  of  both  North  and  South, 
with  the  petition  that  aid  and  comfort  for  all  might 
be  supplied  in  measures  commensurate  to  the  woes 
to  be  relieved;  and  any  thing  like  excited  discussions 
on  military  topics  was  rigidly  interdicted  in  the  house. 

A  friend,  and  then  parishioner  of  the  Church  of  the 
Holy  Communion,  gives  the  following  as  to  Dr.  Muhl- 
en berg's  spirit  amid  the  fierce  agitation  of  those  ter- 
rible days: 

"  I  remember  one  early  Christmas  service,  long  before 
it  was  light,  when  the  morning  star  was  shining  over- 
head, and  the  whole  earth  beneath  was  fast  asleep.  It 
was  at  the  time  when  the  sad  war  fever  was  at  its 
height;  when  those  who  were  loyal  and  on  the  right 
side,  were  at  least  wrong  in  the  bitterness  they  felt 
towards  the  South — when  nobody  had  dared  to  talk  of 
compassion  for  the  other  side,  or  Christian  brotherhood, 
or  communion  in  the  church  of  Christ;  when  nothing 
but  hate  seemed  to  be  the  right  and  proper  thing. 
Just  at  the  full  passionate  high-tide  of  this  wretched 
feeling,  in  the  hush  of  a  holy  Christmas  dawn,  we  sat 
still,  after  the  carols,  to  receive  our  Pastor's  Christmas 
greeting.  He  took  for  his  subject  the  Prince  of  peace. 
After  enlarging  on  the  Feast  of  the  Nativity,  as  a  feast 
of  good  will,  and  showing  us  how  the  blessed  Christ- 
mas-tide was  sent  to  us  as  a  time  of  reconciliation  and 
Christmas  greeting  to  our  estranged  brethren,  his  coun- 
tenance became  suddenly  illuminated,  and  he  seemed 
to  be  carried  away  from  us  in  one  of  his  nights  of 


344  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

holiest  feeling;  lowering  his  voice  and  raising  his  head 
slightly,  he  said: 

"  '  The  Prince  of  peace  makes  a  royal  feast  for  us  on 
his  natal  day.  One  table,  One  bread,  One  cup,  for  all 
alike.  East  and  West,  North  and  South,  for  loyalists 
and  rebels,  masters  and  slaves.  Kebels !  At  that  board 
what  are  we  all,  North  and  South,  but  rebels  ? — pardoned 
rebels,  receiving  anew  the  pledges  of  our  pardon,  and 
adoring  the  condescension  of  our  Prince  in  stooping  to 
us  with  the  overtures  of  peace.  And  what  but  rebels 
should  we  now  be,  save  for  the  constraints  of  his  love  ? 
Slaves !  What  are  we  but  emancipated  slaves,  the  freed- 
men  of  grace,  yet  serving  the  Master  of  choice,  of  sweet 
choice,  while  he  takes  us  to  his  bosom  as  brothers.' 

"  As  I  write  these  words  now  (1877),  after  the  lapse 
of  thirteen  years,  they  seem  nothing  more  than  a  right 
and  natural  utterance  from  the  pulpit ;  then  they  sound- 
ed strangely  sweet  to  our  ears,  and  thrilled  our  hearts 
like  the  Gospel  of  Peace,  heard  for  the  first  time  in  a 
heathen  land.  After  the  service,  when  we  all  advanced 
to  the  chancel  steps  to  shake  hands  with  our  Pastor,  as 
was  the  custom  in  the  Church  of  the  Holy  Communion, 
I  thanked  him  for  those  moving  words,  and  ventured  to 
ask  for  a  copy  of  them.  He  seemed  to  hesitate  at  first, 
but  when  he  heard  that  I  wanted  them  to  melt  the  too 
hard  loyalty  of  a  friend,  he  readily  acceded  to  my  re- 
quest, and  the  next  day  they  came  to  me  in  his  own 
handwriting,  not  the  whole,  but  the  desired  portion  of 
the  beautiful  sermon." 

In  the  year  1862,  one   hundred   of  the  beds  of  St. 


"CONVULSED    WITH  RIOTS."  345 

Luke's  Hospital  were  appropriated  by  request  to  sick 
and  wounded  volunteers.  The  government  desired  the 
use  of  all  the  beds,  but  provision  had  to  be  reserved 
for  the  sick  women  and  children.  A  large  and  inex- 
haustible field  for  patriotic  and  Christian  service  was 
thus  opened  to  Pastor,  physicians,  Sisters,  associations, 
and  individual  friends  of  the  Hospital;  and  a  great 
amount  of  good  was  done,  particularly  by  Dr.  Muhl- 
enberg  in  his  personal  influence  with  the  soldiers, 
numbers  of  whom  became  very  dear  to  him. 

In  1863  a  hundred  thousand  men  were  called  for  by 
conscription,  exciting  the  signal  resistance  of  certain 
classes,  especially  in  the  city  of  New  York.  Then 
came  the  two  terrible  days  of  July  13th  and  14th, 
when  "the  proudest  city  of  the  land"  was  seen  "con- 
vulsed with  riots,"  and 

"Mei  who  dared  their  simple  duty  do 

Met  arson,  death,  rapine,  on  every  hand, 

And  men,  who  had  no  fault  save  that  their  God 

Had  given  them  a  skin  of  dusky  hue, 
Under  the  feet  of  reckless  fiends  were  trod; 

And  treason  shook  the  city,  through  and  through." 

St.  Luke's  had  her  full  share  of  the  peril  and  anxiety 
of  those  disgraceful  days.  The  first  near  alarm  was 
the  burning  of  the  Colored  Orphan  Asylum,  which 
stood  in  a  large  garden  between  Forty-third  and  Forty- 
fourth  Streets,  on  the  west  side  of  the  Fifth  Avenue, 
and  had  two  hundred  and  twenty  little  children  within 
its  walls  at  the  beginning  of  the  assault.  To  make 
sure  of  their  work  of  destruction,  the  infuriated  men 


346  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS   MUHLENBERG. 

had  piled  the  lighter  furniture  together  and  drenched 
the  floors  with  inflammable  material  before  applying 
the  match.  The  volumes  of  dense  black  smoke  rose 
up  to  the  sky,  full  in  view  of  the  Hospital  windows, 
then  came  the  flames,  and  in  less  than  half  an  hour 
the  building  fell.*  Later  in  the  day,  pillaging  women 
and  boys  were  seen  straggling  up  the  Avenue  loaded 
with  iron  cribs,  tables,  or  whatever  else  they  could 
make  booty  of. 

Next,  three  policemen  were  brought  in  as  patients, 
badly  wounded  in  their  endeavors  to  quell  the  mob. 
Then  came  at  noon  a  fearful  stentorian  voice  from  the 
basement  corridor,  and  resounding  through  the  story 
above,  crying,  "Turn  out,  turn  out  by  six  o'clock,  or 
we'll  burn  ye  in  your  beds!"  Dr.  Muhlenberg  and 
others  hastened  below.  A  huge,  hatless  and  coatless 
laborer,  his  shirt  sleeves  rolled  up  to  the  armpits,  and 
bare-breasted,  red  with  liquor  and  rage,  had  entered 
by  the  lower  door,  and  was  striding  back  and  forth 

*  The  household  escaped  as  by  a  miracle.  An  eye-witness  thus 
describes  it: 

"At  the  sound  of  the  bell,  the  long  line  of  terrified  little  children 
filed  quietly  down-stairs  and  through  the  halls  into  the  very  body  of 
the  mob,  who  literally  filled  the  enclosure,  and  whose  savage  yells  and 
inhuman  threats  thrilled  like  a  death-note  on  every  heart  .... 
The  human  mass  swayed  back,  as  though  impelled  by  an  unseen 
power;  not  a  hand  was  raised  to  molest  them,  and  without  sustaining 
the  slightest  injury,  children  and  care-takers  reached  the  station  house 
in  Thirty-fifth  Street,  where  for  three  days  they  were  crowded  in  the 
halls  and  cells  of  the  building,  with  the  bleeding,  dying  ruffians  who 
had  been  taken  by  the  police." — Charities  of  JVeto  York. 


ST.   LUKE'S    THREATENED.  347 

the  long  hall,  bellowing  over  and  over  these  words. 
Dr.  Muhlenberg  and  some  of  the  gentle-women  of  the 
house  tried  in  turn  to  pacify  him,  but  they  might  as 
well  have  attempted  to  hush  the  roaring  tempest. 
After  awhile  he  left,  and  it  was  with  a  blank,  helpless 
look  that  one  face  met  another. 

Dr.  Muhlenberg  quietly  directed  that  his  papers  and 
whatever  documents  of  value  there  were  in  the  house 
should  be  at  once  put  together  and  sent  in  a  carriage 
to  the  Sisters'  House  for  safety,  and  some  measures  were 
considered  for  the  removal  of  the  little  children  and 
sickest  women  in  the  event  of  an  assault.  There  was 
an  ominous  provision  of  weapons  for  such  a  purpose, 
close  at  hand  just  then.  The  area  surrounding  the 
building  was  strewed  with  spiked  iron  rods  by  the 
hundred,  prepared  for  guarding  the  windows  of  the 
entire  basement  story,  and  in  mid-road,  were  piled  at 
intervals,  heaps  of  stone  cubes  for  paving  the  streets, 
— convenient,  easily-hurled  missiles  for  stalwart  men. 
The  Pastor  moved  amongst  it  all  like  the  man  of  God 
that  he  was.  There  were  young  men  in  the  house, 
loyal  and  high  spirited,  who  could  not  help  remon- 
strating respectfully  with  Dr.  Muhlenberg  at  his  pas- 
siveness — "Doctor,  you're  not  going  to  have  us  stand 
still  and  see  this  beautiful  Hospital  destroyed  like  the 
Orphan  Asylum  yonder,  are  you?  Let  us  send  to 
General  Wool  for  a  piece  of  ordnance  and  some  sol- 
diers." The  Pastor  had  no  confidence  in  any  such 
measures  of  defence,  disapproved  of  them  indeed,  but 
he  was  almost  alone  in  his  opinion,  and  when,  as  with 


348  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

the  Prophet  Elisha,  "they  urged  him  till  he  was 
ashamed,  he  said,  Go." 

Some  time  before  this  the  city  cars  had  ceased  run- 
ning, the  telegraph  wires  were  cut,  and  St.  Luke's  was 
almost  isolated.  A  horse  for  the  messenger  to  General 
Wool  was  borrowed  of  a  plain,  timid  neighbor  not  far 
distant,  who,  to  protect  himself,  had  affixed  a  huge 
sign  on  his  house  of  "Opposition  to  the  Draft."  He 
came  over  to  the  Hospital,  kindly,  but  as  half  afraid  of 
being  seen  so  doing,  to  warn  the  authorities  that  it  was 
a  serious  thing  to  have  taken  in  those  injured  police- 
men, the  rioters  threatened  to  come  down  upon  the 
Institution  for  it,  and  that  being  the  fact,  he  could  not 
endanger  himself  by  assisting  beyond  lending  the  horse. 
After  a  long  delay,  the  messenger  sent  in  quest  of  mil- 
itary protection  returned.  There  were  neither  troops 
nor  artillery  unoccupied,  but  if  matters  came  to  an  ex- 
tremity, they  could ,  come  down  again.  Dr.  Muhlen- 
berg  was  relieved.  There  was  only  one  kind  of  defence 
he  cared  to  lean  on. 

There  was  a  stifling  oppressive  stillness  in  the  sus- 
pended traffic  of  the  street,  and  now  and  again  from  the 
window  could  be  seen  men  and  women  assailing  the  few 
carriages  that  passed  up  or  down  Fifth  Avenue.  The 
sultry  afternoon  wore  away;  what  would  six  o'clock 
bring?  Knots  of  ill-looking  men  were  seen  standing 
about  the  neighborhood,  and  a  low  tavern  about  twenty 
rods  to  the  north  of  St.  Luke's  on  the  Fifth  Avenue 
seemed  to  be  a  rendezvous  for  orders,  and  between  the 
two,  long  low  whistles  were  from  time  to  time  ex- 


SUSPENSE.  349 

changed.  All  things  moved  on  in  a  kind  of  breath- 
less order  in  the  house.  Six  o'clock  came,  and  at  half 
past  the  Chapel  bell  rang  as  usual,  and  the  household 
gathered  for  their  evening  worship.  The  patients  had 
been  carefully  guarded  from  alarm,  but  to  the  rest  of 
the  family  the  service  occupied  a  period  of  surpassingly 
intense  emotion.  The  Pastor's  voice,  in  place  of  its 
usual  flexibility  and  richness,  had  an  almost  sepulchral 
sound  as  he  turned  to  St.  Peter's  second  epistle,  third 
chapter,  and  read  of  the  coming  of  the  day  of  the  Lord 
as  a  thief  in  the  night;  a  suitable  hymn  and  prayers 
followed.  The  hour  passed.  A  few  ill-looking  men 
had  stepped  over  the  low  wooden  fence  that  then  en- 
closed the  grounds,  and  a  woman,  occupying  a  base- 
ment room  at  the  eastern  end,  overheard  two  of  them, 
who  sat  on  the  grass  close  under  her  window,  talking 
together  as  though  surprised  no  attack  were  in  progress. 

"  Wasn't  it  to  be  at  that  hour?" 

Again :  "  Have  they  been  warned  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  said  the  others,  and  they  moved  off. 

Night  came  on,  a  night  of  horrors.  Yells  and  shrieks, 
at  no  great  distance,  with  now  and  again  the  report 
of  a  street  howitzer,  or  the  rattle  of  musketry,  filled  the 
darkness.  Only  the  patients  and  the  subordinates  of 
the  household  thought  of  going  to  bed,  neither  that 
night,  nor  on  the  night  following.  Early  the  next 
morning  Dr.  Muhlenberg  sent  two  trusty,  intelligent 
men  as  scouts,  to  mingle  among  the  leaders  of  the  mob 
and  learn  if  possible  what  was  proposed  for  St.  Luke's. 
They  succeeded  in  worming  out  of  the  rioters  that  the 


350  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

Hospital  was  on  their  list  for  destruction,  but  that  "an- 
other place  had  to  be  attended  to  first." 

Before  these  wicked  men  found  themselves  at  lei- 
sure for  the  attack,  the  current  of  feeling  was  entirely 
turned.  It  came  about  somewhat  remarkably. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  second  day,  a  young  rioter, 
who  had  been  shot  by  a  soldier,  was  brought  by  a  posse 
of  the  mob  to  the  Hospital  gate,  with  a  request  for  ad- 
mission. Dr.  Muhlenberg  went  immediately  out  and 
received  the  patient.  His  mates  carried  him  into  the 
ward.  He  was  dangerously  hurt,  and  the  surgeons 
were  quickly  about  him.  His  miserable  old  moth- 
er followed  to  the  bedside,  bewailing  piteously  that 
her  son  was  shot  down  like  a  wild  beast,  and  he  so 
innocent. 

"What  was  he  doing?"  asked  Dr.  Muhlenberg. 

"Nothing  at  all,  at  all,  your  riverence,  but  just 
standing  on  the  doorstep  with  a  bit  of  a  brick-bat  in 
his  hand." 

The  man  attended  to,  the  Pastor  returned  to  the 
crowd,  and  going  among  them  in  his  simple  dignity, 
said  that  the  doors  of  the  Hospital  were  freely  opened 
to  every  wounded  man  needing  help,  whoever  or  what- 
ever he  might  be,  but  that  in  doing  such  charity  it  was 
not  expected  that  the  house  should  be  threatened  with 
fire  and  storm.  He  was  interrupted  by  cries  of  "No, 
no,  certainly  not.  Long  live  St.  Luke's  Hospital!  God 
bless  Dr.  Muhlenberg!  Not  a  hair  of  his  head  shall  be 
hurt.  We'll  stand  by  him,"  etc.,  etc.  "Thank  you, 
thank  you,"  the  venerable  man  replied,  and  then  rais- 


THE    VIGILANCE    COMMITTEE.  351 

ing  his  hand,  brought  them  to  silence  again.  They 
listened  respectfully,  as,  in  his  own  clear,  kindly  way, 
he  told  them  that  what  they  were  doing  was  altogether 
wrong.  There  might  be  two  opinions  about  the  draft. 
They  were  not  obliged  to  think  it  good,  but  it  was 
their  duty,  if  they  disliked  it,  to  use  peaceable  meas- 
ures to  get  it  changed,  etc.,  etc.  It  is  impossible  to  do 
justice  to  the  sensible,  forcible  address  he  made  them, 
standing  bare-headed  in  their  midst,  for  they  seemed 
drawn  to  him  and  gathered  around  him.  Then,  wheth- 
er by  the  force  of  his  personal  influence  upon  them,  or 
through  the  proverbial  fickleness  of  a  mob,  an  entire 
revulsion  took  place.  They  renewed  their  vivas  for  St. 
Luke's  and  its  Pastor,  and  offered  to  get  re-inforcements 
and  form  themselves  into  a  vigilance  committee  for  the 
protection  of  the  Institution — which,  under  an  official 
personage  of  the  vicinity,  they  did.  In  considerable 
force  they  patrolled  the  neighborhood  all  night,  and 
once  every  hour  halted  on  the  Hospital  grounds  with  a 
terrifying  hurrah  to  assure  the  inmates  of  their  safety, 
and  also  to  regale  themselves  with  ale  and  other  stimu- 
lants. It  was  not  a  very  comfortable  guard,  but  there 
was  infinite  relief  in  the  vastly  changed  situation,  and 
on  the  third  day  the  tumult  was  beginning  to  ebb  out. 
During  the  months  immediately  succeeding  these 
events,  prospects  so  greatly  brightened  for  the  North 
that  the  president  was  encouraged  to  issue  a  procla- 
mation recommending  a  General  Thanksgiving  on  the 
26th  of  November  (1863),  as  an  expression  of  national 
gratitude  for  so  much  of  success.  The  proclamation 


352  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

touched  a  responsive  chord  in  Dr.  Muhlenberg's  muse, 
and  a  Thanksgiving  Hymn  with  accompanying  music 
soon  came  into  being.  As  the  piece  was  suggested  by 
Mr.  Lincoln's  call  upon  the  nation  to  give  thanks,  Dr. 
Muhlenberg  instinctively  spoke  of  it  as  "the  President's 
Hymn"  but  would  not  permanently  affix  such  a  title 
without  Mr.  Lincoln's  approbation.  Mr.  Miiiturn  saw 
the  piece,  was  greatly  pleased  with  it,  and  sent  a  copy 
to  the  president,  with  whom  he  was  personally  ac- 
quainted, telling  him  Dr.  Muhlenberg's  involuntary 
thought  as  to  its  title,  and  asking  on  his  own  ac- 
count, if  it  should  be  thus  called.  Mr.  Lincoln  tele- 
graphed back:  "So  let  it  be,"  and  therefore  so  it  was. 
The  President's  Hymn  completed  happily  Dr.  Muhl- 
enberg's music  and  verse  of  the  war  period.  The  stir- 
ring joyous  song  with  its  refrain, 

"Give  thanks  all  ye  people;  give  thanks  to  the  LORD, 
Alleluia's  of  freedom,  let  freemen  accord," 

is  familiar  to  many.  The  hymn  was  very  generally 
sung  on  the  occasion  for  which  it  was  prepared,  in 
the  Episcopal  and  other  churches.  The  proceeds  of  the 
sale  of  the  piece  with  its  music,  such  as  they  were, 
went  to  the  widows  and  orphans  of  soldiers. 


FROM  A  PHOTOGRAPH  BY  FREDERICKS, IN  HIS   SEVENTY  FIFTH  YEAR. 


CHAPTER  XXL 

1865-1866. 

Benevolent  Activities  during  War. — The  selfish  Landlord.— Central  Park 
Splendor. — An  unrepining  Spirit. — Evening  Hours. — Soldier  Patients. — 
Favoring  the  Poorest. — A  Riddle. — Keeping  Lent. — Efforts  for  general 
Observance  of  Good  Friday. — Co-operation  of  Ministers  of  various 
Denominations. — Sermon  in  Dr.  Adams's  Church. — Bishop  Potter's 
Pastoral. — Letters  to  a  Friend. — Dr.  Schaff 's  Service  in  Church  of  the 
Holy  Communion. — Restoration  of  Church  of  Augustus. — Growth  of 
exclusive  Sentiment. — Death  of  Dr.  Crusd. — A  Pair  of  Saints. — Anec- 
dotes.— An  Olive  Branch. — Act  of  General  Convention  of  1865. 

THE  unhappy  years  of  the  war,  in  the  sufferings 
direct  and  indirect  which  it  entailed,  opened  a  vast 
field  both  for  public  and  private  benevolence  through- 
out the  land.  Dr.  Muhlenberg's  humane  and  Christian 
sympathies  were  never  in  more  active  exercise.  There 
seemed  an  almost  unremitting  demand  upon  his  time 
and  attention.  "I  hope  the  way  to  the  kingdom  of 
heaven  for  you  and  me  lies  through  these  corridors,"  he 
said  one  day  to  a  fellow-worker,  "for  we  spend  very 
much  of  our  time  in  traversing  them." 

Besides  his  ardent,  pains-taking  interest  in  the  sol- 
diers themselves,  he  often  found  occasion  for  out-of- 
door  errands  of  mercy  in  the  service  of  their  families ; 
the  following  is  an  example.  The  wife  of  a  volunteer, 
23 


354  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

then  in  the  army,  had  failed  to  receive  her  usual  remit- 
tances, and  came  in  great  distress  to  Dr.  Muhlenberg 
under  a  threat  of  ejection  for  not  paying  her  rent. 

"Who  is  your  landlord?"  he  inquired. 

»Mr.  .     He  has  a  good  many  houses." 

"Oh,  I  know  him  well.  Be  comforted.  I  will  see 
to  it." 

Forthwith  he  repaired  to  the  poor  woman's  landlord, 
who  was  engaged,  at  the  time,  in  his  private  office,  but, 
being  intimate  with  the  Doctor,  admitted  him  there. 
The  rich  man  was  counting  a  quantity  of  gold  into  lit- 
tle piles  at  the  moment.  Dr.  Muhlenberg  described  the 
poor  tenant's  distress,  and  asked  him  to  give  her  a  quit- 
claim for  a  quarter's  rent. 

"Impossible.  I  have  nothing  at  all  to  do  with  it. 
My  agent  attends  to  all  such  matters.  Business  would 
be  quite  demoralized  by  such  interference." 

"Nay,  but,"  remonstrated  Dr.  Muhlenberg,  "the  good 
woman  occupies  your  house,  and  you  receive  her  money 
for  it.  She  has  paid  regularly  till  now,  when  she  is 
ordered  to  leave." 

"Yes,  yes,  that  may  be  all  true,  but  the  thing  can't 
be  done;  it  is  not  business." 

"  Well,  then,"  said  the  faithful  pleader  for  the  poor, 
"just  give  me  one  or  two  of  those  gold  pieces  for  her." 

"By  no  means,"  rejoined  the  rich  man.  "I  want 
every  one  of  them  to  make  up  a  sum  I'm  going  to  put 
into  the  bank." 

"Well,  sir,"  said  Dr.  Muhlenberg,  rising  with  some 
indignation  to  go,  "I  would  rather  take  my  chance 


OLD    RENT  ROLL.  355 

for  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  with  the  poorest,  mean- 
est, dirtiest  beggar  in  the  streets  of  New  York  than 
with  you." 

Full  of  the  softest  humanities,  and  merciful  after  the 
heavenly  pattern,  to  "publicans  and  sinners,"  there 
were  two  things  that  always  roused  his  ire  —  greed 
and  hypocrisy.  Further,  he  enjoyed,  now  and  then,  a 
strong  word  when  it  fitted.  Here  is  a  similar  reflec- 
tion, made  after  a  somewhat  like  occurrence.  "I  am 
no  apologist  for  Mariolatry,  but  I  would  rather  fare 
with  Bridget  saying  her  'Hail  Mary,'  than  with  Old 
Rent  Roll,  her  master,  groaning  over  her  idolatry — 
himself  a  worshipper  of  Mammon.  Granting  the  idol- 
atry, hers  may  be  venial,  compared  with  his,  in  the 
eye  of  the  Discerner  of  Spirits." 

In  these  days,  his  main  recreation  was  a  brisk  walk 
in  Central  Park,  so  conveniently  at  hand,  where  he 
frequently  noted  the  throng  of  gay  equipages  bowling 
along  the  carriage  ways.  "  Little  sign  of  the  unparal- 
leled disaster  of  the  land,"  he  would  say,  and  then  rec- 
ollected that  those  newly  set  up  handsome  establish- 
ments were  too  often  the  very  product  of  the  war, 
acquired  by  those  who  made  money  out  of  it,  but 
took  not  the  slightest  share  in  its  hardships.  Gazing 
one  day  at  such  a  scene,  he  said  to  a  poor  shivering 
fellow  who  asked  for  something  to  buy  him  a  morsel 
to  eat,  "I  suppose  you  think  it  rather  hard  to  see 
these  streams  of  merry  sleigh-riders  dashing  along  so 
gayly  while  you  are  starving  in  the  cold?"  "Oh!  no," 
he  replied,  "they  are  enjoying  themselves.  I  like  to 


356  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

see  them.  I  would  do  the  same  if  I  had  a  chance." 
Dr.  Muhlenberg  did  not  fail  to  reward  the  man's  un- 
repiiiing  spirit,  and  recorded  the  incident  to  the  credit 
of  human  nature. 

A  common  occupation  of  the  evenings  of  his  Hos- 
pital life  consisted  in  private  interviews  with  the  pa- 
tients in  his  own  room.  When  the  rush  of  business 
from  outside  was  suspended,  and  he  was  at  leisure  from 
other  interruptions,  the  lights  in  his  study  turned  low, 
one  might  hear,  in  passing  along  the  corridors,  his 
voice  in  deep,  subdued  tones  of  earnest  persuasion,  or 
fervent  prayer,  with  one  or  another  forlorn  patient  who 
had  crept  down  to  that  hallowed  place  for  the  fatherly 
counsel  and  spiritual  help  never  sought  in  vain.  Very 
often,  at  night,  before  he  lay  down  to  sleep,  he  would 
mount  even  to  the  third-story  ward,  and  at  the  bedside 
of  those  whom  he  knew  to  be  in  especial  danger  or 
distress,  speak  such  words  of  heavenly  help  and  cheer, 
that  the  poor  souls  felt  as  though  an  angel  of  God  had 
visited  them.  And  with  the  morning  dawn,  before 
sitting  down  to  his  early  breakfast,  he  would  constantly 
again  look  in  for  a  moment  upon  such  sufferers,  to  learn 
how  the  night  had  passed. 

On  Sunday  evenings  he  would  have  his  melodeon 
carried  into  the  wards  most  remote  from  the  Chapel, 
and  make  a  bright  service  of  praise  and  prayer  for  those 
excluded  by  their  ailments  from  attending  church  with 
the  rest.  And  so  passed  his  happy,  thrice  blessed  days. 

By  the  close  of  the  year  1863,  the  government  had 
removed  the  sick  and  wounded  men  from  all  the  civil 


FAVORING    THE    POOREST.  357 

institutions  to  military  hospitals.  Dr.  Muhlenberg  had 
found  great  pleasure  in  ministering  to  his  soldier  pa- 
tients. "  It  is  a  satisfaction,"  he  said,  "  to  see  how 
much  they  enjoy  their  accommodation  here.  Used  to 
the  forms  and  strictness  of  military  regimen,  some  very 
few  of  them  abused  the  mild,  paternal  order  of  the 
house,  but  with  these  exceptions,  they  have  been  as 
orderly  and  obedient  as  could  be  desired.  .  .  .  Very 
generally  they  are  pleased  to  attend  the  religious  ser- 
vices, both  in  the  wards  and  in  the  Chapel.  Scarcely 
any  of  them  are  Episcopalians,  but  after  a  few  direc- 
tions they  take  to  the  Prayer  Book  and  make  responses 
worthy  of  a  regular  church  congregation.  It  is  pleas- 
ant to  have  them  gathered  every  evening,  as  well  as 
on  Sundays,  for  worship,  which  they  can  do  so  easily 
by  means  of  the  central  Chapel  communicating  with 
the  wards.  Some  of  them  have  expressed  much  pleas- 
ure in  it.  We  may  hope  that  they  will  carry  from  the 
Hospital  more  than  they  came  for.  .  .  ." 

There  was  a  great  preponderance  of  chronic  patients 
in  the  earlier  years  of  the  Institution,  and  the  pro- 
longed occupation  of  beds  sometimes  rendered  it  diffi- 
cult to  entertain  all  the  applications  made  for  admission. 
One  day,  when  only  one  vacant  bed  remained  on  the 
men's  side,  two  men  applied  at  the  same  moment  to  be 
taken  in.  One  was  a  respectable-looking  man,  able  to 
pay  his  board,  the  other  a  poor  consumptive,  without  a 
shilling  in  the  world.  The  well-to-do  man  was  so  eager 
to  be  admitted,  and  the  poor  man  so  needy,  that  Dr. 
Muhlenberg  was  referred  to  for  a  decision.  "  Why,  of 


358  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLEKBERG. 

course,  take  in  the  man  that  has  no  means;  the  other 
can  procure  a  shelter  somewhere."  This  was  not  a 
solitary  instance  of  the  principle  governing  admissions ; 
any  other  decision  would  have  been  a  disgrace  to  the 
Christianity  of  the  house;  but  Dr.  Muhlenberg  always 
congratulated  himself  on  an  opportunity  of  favoring 
the  poorest,  and  often  called  the  Hospital,  "Lazarus's 
Palace."  On  one  such  occasion  he  improvised  a  riddle, 
thus:  "Why  is  St.  Luke's  like  the  kingdom  of  heaven?" 
Answer:  "Because  'they  that  have  riches  shall  hardly 
enter  therein.' " 

In  the  spring  of  1,864,  it  occurred  to  him  to  make  an 
effort  for  the  observance  of  the  coming  Good  Friday, 
by  all  Evangelical  Christians  in  the  city  of  New  York. 
He  always  made  much  of  Lent,  not  in  the  way  of 
minute  rules,  as  to  this  or  that  article  of  diet,  or 
other  matters  of  "  mint,  anise  and  cummin,"  but  as  an 
especial  time  for  self-searching,  true  self-denial,  and 
humiliation  for  sin.  He  would  speak  of  the  season 
as  "an  annual  returning  to  the  law,  which  might  be 
made  very  salutary  if  used  for  evangelical  repentance." 
"  Our  Lord,"  he  said  "  was  forty  days  in  the  wilderness 
alone ;  we  may  profitably  follow  him  there,  by  making 
this  appointment  of  the  church,  a  time  for  putting  our- 
selves more  frequently  and  solemnly  in  the  presence 
of  God,  in  spiritual  reflection  and  prayer.  .  .  ." 

Passion  Week  was  eminently  a  Holy  Week  to  him 
to  his  life's  end,  and  with  regard  to  the  observance 
of  Good  Friday,  as  was  his  earliest  desire,  so  was 
his  latest — that  all  who  named  themselves  Christians 


OBSERVANCE    OF   GOOD   FRIDAY.  359 

should,  with  one  accord,  keep  the  day  of  their  common 
redemption. 

This  year  (1864)  there  were  some  especial  grounds 
whereon  to  urge  his  Evangelical  Catholic  principles  to 
such  an  end.  These  were,  in  his  own  words,  "  the  fear- 
ful moral  aspect  of  the  city  of  New  York,  the  revelling 
in  luxury  and  wanton  extravagance ;  the  squanderings 
of  newly-gotten  wealth  in  fashion  and  display ;  the  tri- 
umphant successes  of  places  of  amusement,  while  new 
horrors  of  the  necessities  of  war  form  the  daily  items 
of  news ;  while  the  moans  of  suffering  and  bereavement 
from  agonized  hearts  almost  sound  in  our  ears." 

In  a  brief  paper  entitled  "A  Word  for  Good  Friday," 
he  expatiates  upon  the  history  and  principle  of  the 
solemn  observance  of  the  day,  thus:  "There  are  traces 
of  it  in  the  earliest  centuries.  It  is  impossible  to  assign 
the  date  of  its  beginning,  but  naturally  it  might  have 
been  the  first  anniversary  of  the  Crucifixion.  ...  It 
was  adhered  to  in  Protestant  countries  as  strictly  after, 
as  it  had  been  before,  the  Keformation.  They  never 
thought  of  giving  it  up  as  a  papal  custom,  nor  do  they 
at  the  present  day.  Good  Friday  belongs  to  the  relig- 
ion of  continental  Europe  everywhere ;  prevailing  also, 
though  not  so  universally,  in  the  British  dominions. 
In  our  own  country,  likewise,  many  of  the  Protestant 
churches,  the  Lutheran  and  the  Eeformed,  the  Moravian 
Brethren,  with  a  large  number  of  the  Wesleyan  Metho- 
dists, and  others,  are  of  one  mind  on  the  subject,  which, 
without  any  violence  to  conscience,  it  would  seem 
might  be  the  mind  of  all.  If  hallowed  associations,  if 


360  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

ancient  and  world-wide  precedent  be  required  for  an 
institution,  this  may  claim  them  abundantly. 

"  Of  all  holy  days,  it  is  the  least  likely  to  be  abused. 
It  is  a  fast,  not  a  feast,  like  Christmas,  which  men  may 
and  often  do  prostitute  to  riot  and  excess.  Merry 
Christmas  the  world  is  willing  to  keep;  Good  Friday 
it  would  leave  undisturbed,  and  on  no  day  might  de- 
vout Christians  more  realize  that  they  are  not  of  the 
world. 

"True,  the  great  theme  then  dwelt  upon  is  not  for 
our  thoughts  on  that  day  alone.  We  remember  the 
death  of  Christ  every  day  of  our  lives,  but  it  does  not 
thence  follow  that  we  may  not  more  especially  remem- 
ber it  on  one  day  in  the  year.  We  are  to  pray  with- 
out ceasing,  but  we  have  certain  times  for  prayer. 
We  are  to  hallow  all  our  days,  yet  we  are  to  remember 
the  Sabbath  to  keep  it  holy.  The  Christian  is  to  be 
always  humble  and  penitent,  yet  the  profit  of  special 
days  for  humiliation  and  penitence  has  always  been 
recognized.  We  receive  our  daily  blessings  from  the 
hand  of  God  with  lively  gratitude,  but  no  one  would 
make  this  a  reason  for  dispensing  with  the  annual 
Thanksgiving.  The  principle  involved  is  the  same  in 
the  observance  before  us.  It  assumes  the  expediency 
of  there  being  one  marked,  fixed,  and  devoted  period 
in  the  cycle  of  the  year  to  call  us  away  from  earth, 
to  bring  us  closer  to  the  cross,  to  study  more  deeply 
its  awful  mystery,  to  perceive  more  clearly  the  exceed- 
ing sinfulness  of  sin,  and  thus  to  renew  our  repentance, 
to  quicken  our  faith,  and  to  see  the  whole  price  of  our 


A    DEMAND    OF    THE    TIMES.  361 

redemption  paid  when  the  Redeemer  cried :  t  It  is 
finished.'  Nothing  but  further  sanctification,  under 
the  blessing  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  could  flow  from  a  day 
thus  used. 

"  Hence  there  are  countless  believers  to  whom  Good 
Friday  is  inestimably  precious,  and  who  would  not  for 
the  world  spend  it  in  secular  pursuits;  while  it  is 
equally  true  of  countless  others  that  while  the  dying 
Saviour  is  never  absent  from  their  spiritual  gaze,  they 
know  nothing  of  the  day,  and  would  even  shrink  from 
keeping  it  as  carnal  and  popish ;  just  again  as  there  are 
still  others  who  keep  it  with  the  utmost  scrupulousness, 
who,  nevertheless,  may  have  every  thing  yet  to  learn 
of  the  power  of  the  cross  to  salvation.  But  any  thing 
of  that  kind  does  not  touch  the  question  of  the  edifica- 
tion of  the  observance  in  the  manner  in  which  alone  it 
is  here  commended. 

"But,  further,  do  not  the  times  call  upon  all  who 
believe  in  the  vicarious  sacrifice  of  Christ,  for  some 
special  demonstration  on  their  part  which  shall  de- 
clare their  unanimity  in  that  belief?  Now,  when 
multifarious  and  subtle  errors  are  undermining  this 
vital  doctrine  of  the  Gospel,  when  unbelief  insinu- 
ates itself  under  the  guise  of  rational  belief,  when 
Christ  is  preached,  but  not  Christ  crucified,  does  it 
not  behoove  all  who  are  steadfast  in  the  faith  to 
stand  up  together  and  announce  that  in  whatever 
else  they  are  apart,  on  this  ground  truth  they  are 
one?  And  would  it  not  be  an  easy,  a  natural  and 
edifying  way  to  set  apart  and  give  up  a  day  for  this 


362  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS   MUHLENBERG. 

purpose,  and  further  to  take  that  which  always  has 
been  kept  as  the  Atonement-day,  and  so  testify  that,  it 
is  the  ancient  catholic  as  well  as  the  scriptural  faith 
which  they  maintain  in  confessing  *  Christ  Jesus  dying, 
the  just  for  the  unjust  to  bring  us  unto  God '  ?  A  gen- 
eral return  to  Good  Friday  would  be  emphatic,  would 
have  a  positive  meaning,  would  tell  upon  the  world 
as  a  proclamation  that,  despite  of  divisions  and  differ- 
ences, Christians  do  see  'eye  to  eye'  when  they  turn 
to  the  central  object  of  their  faith  and  hope  and  love. 
"  Such  a  union  service  in  our  several  churches  could 
only  be  profitable,  and  also  most  animating  in  thought, 
when  we  consider  the  vast  company  of  Christians  with 
whom  we  would  be  in  sympathy.  The  millions  in  all 
quarters  of  Christendom,  all  called  by  the  day  to  their 
respective  sanctuaries,  all  turning  their  eyes  to  the  one 
object  on  Calvary;  some,  indeed,  less  understandingly 
or  with  a  more  mixed  faith  than  others,  but  all  naming 
the  only  Name  under  heaven  given  among  men  where- 
by we  must  be  saved;  all  pouring  forth  one  litany: 
'Lamb  of  God,  who  takest  away  the  sins  of  the  world, 
have  mercy  upon  us;'  an  innumerable  brotherhood  of 
ransomed  sinners,  each  claiming  his  share  in  the  salva- 
tion of  their  great  Elder  Brother,  the  God-man,  the 
Peacemaker  between  God  and  man,  all  in  virtue  of  the 
blood  of  the  everlasting  covenant,  crying,  *  Our  Father 
who  art  in  heaven.'  What  a  time  for  universal  charity, 
for  those  who  are  blessed  with  the  clear  knowledge  of 
redemption  to  pray  for  the  illumination  of  many  of 
their  brethren,  looking  also  to  the  cross,  but  with  a 


UNITING    TO    KEEP   GOOD    FRIDAY.  363 

darkened  faith ;  what  a  time  for  supplicating  the  great 
Head  of  the  church  that  he  would  purge  out  her  errors, 
heal  her  divisions,  and  give  her  peace !  Shall  we  not 
bear  our  part  in  the  congregation  of  all  nations,  and 
languages,  and  tongues?  Shall  we  not  in  solemn  wor- 
ship, special  and  appropriate  to  the  day,  manifest  our 
union,  so  far  forth,  at  least,  with  the  'holy  church 
throughout  all  the  world '  ?  " 

This  paper  was  followed  by  a  circular  very  widely 
disseminated,  and  to  which  he  succeeded  in  obtaining 
the  signatures  of  the  pastors  of  all  the  more  prominent 
churches  of  the  city,  of  every  party  and  denomination, 
proposing  respectfully  to  their  Christian  brethren  of 
the  city  a  general  agreement  to  observe  the  day  in 
their  congregations.  In  the  list  of  signers,  we  find  the 
rectors  of  Trinity,  Grace  Church,  Calvary,  (then  Dr. 
A.  C.  Coxe,  now  Bishop  of  Western  New  York)  of  St. 
George's  Church,  of  St.  Bartholomew's,  with  those  of 
the  Madison  Square  Presbyterian  Church,  St.  Paul's 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  the  Fourth  Ave.  Presby- 
terian Church,  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church,  the  Fifth 
Ave.  Baptist  Church,  the  German  Reformed  Church, 
etc.,  and  very  many  more  of  differing  communions. 
The  effort  was  an  eminently  successful  one,  and  from 
that  time  forth  the  observance  of  the  day  by  Christians 
generally  has  been  steadily  extending. 

Dr.  Muhlenberg  preached,  by  invitation,  at  the  sec- 
ond service  held  in  the  Madison  Square  Presbyterian 
Church.  He  simply  preached,  leaving  the  conduct  of 
the  worship  to  the  pastor  of  the  congregation.  He 


364  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

* 

was  afterwards  censured  for  this,  and  in  vindicating 
himself  said: 

"For  a  fortnight  previous  I  had  spent  much  time  in 
obtaining  the  signatures  of  a  large  number  of  the 
clergy  of  various  denominations,  to  a  circular  recom- 
mending the  observance  of  that  day,  both  for  its  com- 
memoration and  for  the  purpose  of  manifesting  the 
unity  of  Christians  in  the  doctrines  of  the  Cross. 
Nearly  everywhere  I  met  with  the  most  cordial  wel- 
come. A  few  days  before  the  fast,  Dr.  Adams,  who 
had  taken  a  lead  in  furthering  the  movement,  said  to 
me:  'Will  you  not  now  come  and  finish  your  work 
by  preaching  in  my  church  on  Good  Friday  afternoon, 
when  a  number  of  clergy  and  people  of  other  con- 
gregations will  be  present?'  A  small  reply  would  it 
not  have  been,  had  I  said,  'Yes,  on  condition  that 
you  allow  me  to  conduct  all  the  worship  myself,  and 
according  to  the  forms  of  my  own  church.'  I  shall 
never  forget  that  solemnized  and  thronged  assembly. 
Never  did  I  so  feel  the  reality  of  my  office  as  a  preacher 
of  the  Crucified.  It  was  the  happiest  Good  Friday  of 
my  life." 

Mention  has  been  heretofore  made  of  the  tenacity 
with  which  Dr.  Muhlenberg  held  to  his  principles  of 
Evangelic  Brotherhood.  In  season  and  out  of  season 
he  pressed  them,  and  it  is  doubtful  if  he  ever  passed 
by  an  opportunity  of  discussing  the  subject  with  his 
Episcopal  superiors.  Items  in  his  journal  constantly 
glance  at  conversations  upon  the  theme  with  one  or 
another  bishop  with  whom  he  came  casually  in  contact. 


THE    BISHOP'S   PASTORAL,  365 

He  had  an  unfeigned  reverence  for,  and  appreciation  of, 
their  office,  with  a  vision  so  grand  of  the  possibilities 
of  the  Episcopate  for  the  advancement  of  the  church 
of  Christ  that  he  longed  to  bring  every  individual 
member  of  the  same  to  see  what  he  saw. 

In  the  year  1865  he  published  a  pamphlet  in  answer 
to  Bishop  Potter's  Pastoral,  making  serious  charges 
against  himself  and  some  brother  clergymen  for  prac- 
tising what  were  deemed  canonical  irregularities,  the 
preaching  in  Dr.  Adams's  church  on  this  Good  Friday, 
being  one  of  them ;  and  lending  the  Church  of  the  Holy 
Communion  to  the  Eev.  Dr.  Schaff  for  a  German  ser- 
vice, the  other.  Dr.  Muhlenberg  felt  there  was  an  un- 
fairness in  the  allusion  of  the  Pastoral  to  this  last 
particular,  under  the  circumstances  through  which  Dr. 
Schaff 's  use  of  the  church  came  to  pass ;  and  an  injustice 
also  in  the  objection  made  to  it,  in  the  face  of  the  lib- 
erty allowed  about  the  same  time  in  Trinity  Chapel, 
of  the  celebration  of  the  Holy  Communion  in  the  Greek 
tongue  after  the  formulas  of  the  Russian  Church. 

The  facts  regarding  Dr.  Schaff 's  preaching,  are  thus 
stated  by  Dr.  Muhlenberg: 

"In  regard  to  the  preaching  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Schaff,  in 
the  Church  of  the  Holy  Communion,  it  (the  Pastoral) 
says:  'Certainly  the  specious  plea  urged  on  that  occa- 
sion will  never  be  admitted  again  by  the  present  bish- 
op.' The  specious  plea  was  this:  For  some  time  I  had 
thought  it  would  be  a  good  thing  to  give  our  churches, 
when  not  otherwise  used,  on  Sunday  evenings,  for  ser- 
mons by  native  German  preachers,  with  the  view  of  in- 


366  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS   MUHLENBERG. 

ducing  the  attendance  of  some  of  that  large  portion  of 
our  German  population  neglecting  public  worship  alto- 
gether. Many  who  send  their  children  to  our  Sunday 
schools,  will  not  themselves  come  to  church.  I  be- 
lieved that  if  special  efforts  were  made  to  bring  them, 
not  just  to  mission  halls,  with  which  their  foreign  feel- 
ings won't  associate  the  ideas  of  worship,  but  to  our 
goodly  sanctuaries,  giving  them  a  cordial  American 
welcome  there,  putting  our  organs  in  the  hands  of  their 
countrymen  to  lead  them  in  chorals  of  their  fatherland 
—by  such  means  I  believed  something  might  be  done 
in  bringing  them  to  hear  earnest  preachers  of  their 
own,  not  as  of  any  one  denomination,  but  as  evangelists 
declaring  to  them  the  Gospel,  the  same  in  Germany  and 
America.  Full  of  my  scheme  for  a  German  lecture,  I 
went  to  the  bishop  for  his  approval  of  it,  proposing  to 
make  a  beginning  in  the  Church  of  the  Holy  Commun- 
ion. He  assented  to  it,  without  any  pressing  on  my 
part,  or  hesitation  on  his.  I  left  him,  gratified  with  his 
readiness  in  the  matter.  As  he  now  says  he  'gave  a 
bare  assent,'  I  must  suppose  that  he  did,  but  that  he  was 
urged  by  any  specious  plea,  I  can  not  admit.  He  knows 
how  careful  I  was  to  adhere  to  the  understanding  that 
the  church  should  be  considered  as  loaned  for  the  occa- 
sion, for  I  afterward  informed  him  that  I  had  declined 
the  offer  of  one  of  our  clergymen  to  read  the  evening 
prayer  in  German,  before  Dr.  Schaff's  sermon,  that  there 
might  be  none  of  the  intermingling  of  services  to  which 
he  objected.  I  made  use  of  no  pretext ;  I  was  open  and 
straightforward  throughout 


NO    SPECIOUS   PLEA    URGED.  367 

"  Some  three  months  afterward,  the  bishop,  at  my  re- 
quest, allowed  the  use  of  the  same  church,  for  a  sermon 
by  a  German  Lutheran  divine,  who  then  thought  of 
coming  into  our  church.  The  purpose,  a  special  one, 
was  approved  by  the  bishop,  but  no  specious  plea  was 
urged." 

For  a  full  understanding  of  the  matter  the  reader  is 
referred  to  the  pamphlet  itself,  entitled  "Letters  to  a 
Friend."  *  Dr.  Muhlenberg  used  much  deliberation  in 
making  this  reply  to  the  bishop.  On  simply  personal 
grounds  he  might  have  been  content  to  let  it  pass,  as 
more  than  one  of  his  brethren  entreated  him  to,  but 
he  thought  the  Pastoral  "  calculated  to  do  harm  to  our 
church."  "It  sets  her,"  he  said,  "in  a  false  attitude 
toward  surrounding  Christians.  It  attributes  an  ex- 
clusiveness  which  does  not  belong  to  her,  and  puts  her 
ministers  in  an  ecclesiastical  bondage  foreign  to  her 
spirit,  and  not  imposed  by  her  laws." 

He  never  ceased  to  be  jealous  for  the  honor, — the 
true  character,  full  usefulness,  and  fair  adornment, — 
of  the  Episcopal  Church;  which  had  not,  in  all  her 
borders,  a  more  loyal  and  loving  son;  and  the  same 
spirit  that,  before  he  was  even  ordained,  stirred  him  to 
reform  the  organ  loft  of  St.  James's,  Phila.,  and  to  re- 
move from  the  sanctuary  service  the  incongruous  office 
of  clerk,  impelled  him,  as  life  went  on,  to  put  forth  his 
best  efforts  for  the  eradication  of  more  important  evil 
growths.  The  hallowed  structure,  if  of  heavenly  foun- 

*  Ev.  Cath.  Papers,  First  Series. 


368  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS   MUHLENBERG. 

dation,  was  built  up  of  earthly  elements,  and  hence 
liable  to  injury,  to  unwholesome  accretions,  and  to  de- 
cay. He  would  not  have  us — in  the  imagery  of  a  dele- 
gate to  the  General  Convention,  succeeding  his  decease, 
— "  refrain  from  repairing  the  old  building  till  the  tim- 
bers fall  about  our  ears." 

'"Take  away  her  battlements,  for  they  are  not  the 
Lord's,' "  he  said  might  be  enjoined  of  the  prohibitory 
canons.  Speaking  of  the  interpretation  of  the  twenti- 
eth canon  which  makes  it  enforce  absolute  uniformity 
of  worship  to  the  exclusion  of  a  breath  of  free  prayer, 
under  whatsoever  circumstances,  he  writes: 

"  In  vain  do  we  look  for  any  of  these  severe  provi- 
sions in  the  Prayer  Book.  That  keeps  within  the  limit 
of  its  prerogative.  It  dictates  what  shall  be  said,  and 
there  stops.  It  prescribes,  but  does  not  proscribe.  It 
does  not  forbid  the  utterance  of  any  words  whatever 
beyond  its  own.  But  that,  you  answer,  is  implied. 
Not  so.  When  our  Lord  said,  *  When  ye  pray,  say  Our 
Father,'  we  do  not  understand  him  as  enjoining  exclu- 
sively that  prayer,  which,  from  its  perfection,  .might,  if 
any  prayer  might,  be  our  sole  liturgy.  The  church, 
then  surely  would  not  go  beyond  her  Lord,  and  say  of 
Tier  'form  of  sound  words,'  thus,  and  thus  alone,  shall 
ye  pray.  No,  no.  It  is  the  canon,  in  its  hard  sense, 
not  the  dear  old  Prayer  Book,  which  knows  the  Bible 
too  well  to  abridge  our  Bible  rights." 

"When  the  whole  country  reeled  as 

the  lightning  flashed  through  it  the  terrific  word  of  the 
murder  of  the  president,  and  we  bowed  in  our  sanctu- 


PRESCRIPTIVE   NOT  PROSCRIPTIVE.  369 

aries  before  the  Sovereign  Disposer  of  events,  should 
we  have  stifled  our  hearts  and  uttered  no  supplications 
dictated  by  that  event  in  his  providence,  crushing  the 
heart  of  millions,  and  changing,  for  aught  we  knew, 
the  whole  current  of  our  nation's  fortunes?  No  earnest 
cries,  that  out  of  that  darkness  he  would  bring  light; 
no  litany,  that  the  people  might  learn  what  he  would 
teach  them  by  that  undreamed  of  reverse  of  his  hand  ? 
No  prayer  extraordinary  for  the  magistrate  suddenly 
lifted  to  supreme  command,  that  he  might  be  endowed 
with  wisdom  extraordinary  for  his  new  and  tremendous 
responsibilities,  and  that  he  might  call  to  him  counsel- 
lors seeking  counsel  of  God  ?  Nothing — nothing  at  all 
out  of  the  ordinary  routine,  but  the  'Prayer  for  Per- 
sons in  Affliction,'  commended  to  us  on  that  occasion 
by  our  Diocesan !  " 

The  above  occurred  thus:  On  the  day  following 
the  Good  Friday  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  assassination,  there 
was  a  confirmation  in  Dr.  Muhlenberg's  Church  of  the 
Holy  Communion,  when  he  read  the  service.  He  asked 
the  bishop's  consent  to  a  prayer  suitable  to  the  appall- 
ing circumstances,  the  thought  of  which  filled  every 
heart.  The  result  was  the  direction  stated,  namely,  to 
read  the  "Prayer  for  Persons  in  Affliction."  Never- 
theless, his  sanguine,  upright  heart  comforted  itself 
that  "the  church  as  well  as  the  earth  does  move. 
Evangelical  Catholicism  will  be  understood  some  of 
these  days." 

In  the  year  1860,  on  the  occasion  of  the  restoration 
of  the  old  Church  of  Augustus,  at  The  Trappe,  Pa., 
24 


370  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS   MUHLENBERG. 

founded  by  the  Lutheran  Patriarch  Muhlenberg,  Dr. 
Muhlenberg  as  great  grandson  to  the  latter,  took  part 
by  invitation  on  the  occasion.  He  delivered  a  sermon 
on  the  words,  "The  testimony  of  Jesus  is  the  spirit 
of  prophecy,"  but  did  not  conduct  the  worship;  cir- 
cumstances closely  parallel  to  those  of  the  Good  Friday 
service  in  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Dr.  Muhlenberg 
mentioned  this  fact  in  a  note  *  to  his  "  Letters,"  adding 
that  both  "  Bishop  Alonzo  Potter,  and  Bishop  Bowman 
had  approved  of  his  accepting  the  invitation,  aware 
of  the  devotional  services  of  the  occasion  being  con- 
ducted by  Lutheran  clergymen."  At  the  same  time, 
to  show,  by  a  retrospective  comparison,  the  striking 
growth  of  exclusive  sentiment  in  our  church,  he  makes 
an  opportune  quotation  from  an  old  record  of  the  con- 
secration of  Zion,  another  Lutheran  Church  of  the  Pa- 
triarch Muhlenberg's  founding  in  1769.  This  ancient 
church  stood  in  the  neighborhood  of  Fifth  and  Cherry 
Streets,  Phila.,  and  has  only  within  a  very  few  years 
been  pulled  down.  The  record  to  which  Dr.  Muhl- 
enberg refers  says:  "On  the  second  day  of'  the  so- 
lemnities, the  services  were  according  to  the  Liturgy 
of  the  Church  of  England,  and  a  sermon  was  preached 
by  the  Kev.  Dr.  Peters,  a  clergyman  of  that  church, 
(one  of  the  three  ministers,  of  Christ  Church  and  St. 
Peter's,  Philadelphia).  Several  other  Episcopal  min- 
isters were  present  on  the  occasion,  at  the  conclusion 
of  which  the  Rector  Muhlenberg,  who  had  delivered 

*  Ev.  Cath.  Papers,  First  Series. 


GROWTH  OF  EXCLUSIVE    SENTIMENT.  371 

the  sermon  the  first  day,  addressed  the  congregation, 
and,  in  the  name  of  the  corporation  of  Zion  Church, 
adverted  to  the  many  kind  proofs  of  sympathy  they  had 
received  during  the  three  years  in  which  they  had  wor- 
shipped in*a  building  belonging  to  the  Episcopalians, 
and  the  additional  gratification  they  had  just  experi- 
enced in  the  services  conducted  by  their  Episcopal 
brethren." 

The  sermon  preached  by  Dr.  Muhlenberg,  at  the  res- 
toration of  the  Church  of  Augustus,  was  an  extended 
and  carefully  written  Evangelical  Catholic  discourse 
from  Eev.  xix.  10.  It  was  inscribed  to  his  "  dear  broth- 
er in  the  ministry,  and  former  college  classmate,  Chris- 
tian Frederick  Cruse,  in  memory  of  countless  hours  of 
sweet  converse  on  'things  pertaining  to  the  Kingdom,' 
and  in  testimony  of  wisdom  and  learning,  alike  meek 
and  profound,  disclosed  only  in  such  hours.' " 

In  the  month  of  October,  1865,  death  parted  these 
bosom  friends.  Dr.  Muhlenberg's  journal  has  the  fol- 
lowing entry: 

"Thursday,  October  5th,  11£  p.  x.  I  have  just  come 
from  the  death-bed  of  my  beloved  friend,  Dr.  Cruse. 
He  has  fallen  asleep.  So  gently  did  he  at  last  breathe 
his  life  away  that  we  could  not  tell  the  moment  he 
left  us." 

In  another  place  he  says:  "About  three  years  ago 
I  induced  him,  in  consequence  of  his  declining  health, 
after  much  persuasion,  to  make  his  home  with  me. 
Since  when  we  have  been  daily  companions.  We  read 
together,  we  thought  together,  we  conversed  together 


372  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

— each  knowing  each,  more  than  men  are  wont  to 
know  one  another.  .  .  .  He  was  my  living  com- 
mentator, better  than  any  dead  one  on  my  shelves.  I 
always  found  him  at  home  in  the  most  difficult  texts, 
often  original,  yet  strikingly  natural  in  their  interpre- 
tation. .  .  .  He  was  profound  in  his  affection  for 
the  truth  of  God,  but  impatient  of  the  traditions  of 
men.  .  .  .  Simply  and  entirely  a  disciple  of  Christ. 
.  .  .  Alas!  for  these  hours  of  sweet  communion 
no  more  on  earth!  what  a  blank  has  his  departure 
made  in  my  life.  .  .  .  None  of  the  associations  of 
the  Hospital  are  dearer  to  me  than  that  here  was  the 
last  tarrying  place  of  the  scholar,  the  saint,  and  the 
sage,  the  beloved  friend  of  more  than  fifty  years,  who, 
in  the  fulness  of  age,  without  the  least  decay  of  mind, 
here  glided  in  heavenly  slumber,  to  his  rest  among 
the  beatified  within  the  veil." 

Dr.  Muhlenberg  and  Dr.  Cruse  were  a  pair  of  saints. 
They  were  very  differently  constituted,  mentally  and 
physically,  but  alike  in  unworldly  simplicity,  unself- 
ishness, self-sacrifice,  and  habitual  communion  with 
God.  It  was  interesting  to  see  them  together,  so  op- 
posite, yet  so  harmonious:  one  so  vivacious,  the  other 
so  quiet,  and  mutually  so  frank  and  confiding.  Some- 
times Dr.  Muhlenberg  would  call  Dr.  Cruse  his  cruse, 
out  of  which  he  got  much  oil.  The  Doctor  was  a 
learned  linguist  as  well  as  theologian;  the  master  of 
seven  or  eight  languages.  Again,  the  former  would 
rally  the  old  scholar  on  the  advantage  the  college 
boys  used  to  take  of  his  absent-mindedness,  when 


"MAY  I   CUT    YOUR   HEAD    OFF?"  373 

"keeping  the  study,"  with  some  huge  parchment  tome 
before  him.  This  was  during  his  association  with 
Dr.  M.  as  a  professor  at  St.  Paul's  College,  and  "keep- 
ing the  study"  was  sitting  in  the  large  room  to  main- 
tain general  order  while  the  students  prepared  their 
lessons. 

On  one  of  these  occasions,  the  boys  perceiving  that 
their  guardian  was  very  far  off,  possibly  on  some 
Arabic  or  Coptic  exploration,  dared  one  of  their  num- 
ber to  ask  the  most  preposterous  thing  they  could 
think  of.  Some  unimportant  preliminary  requests  be- 
ing made  by  one  and  another  scholar,  and  all  re- 
ceiving the  invariable,  "Yes,  sir,"  the  test  question 
was  put: 

"Dr.  Cruse?" 

"Sir?" 

"  If  you  please,  may  I  cut  your  head  off?  " 

"  Yes,  sir,"  with  the  most  innocently  respectful  bow. 

The  room  was  in  a  roar,  and  the  story  ever  after 
was  a  standing  joke  in  the  college. 

"You  shouldn't  tell  tales  out  of  school,  Doctor," 
his  friend  added  in  the  mildest  manner;  the  Sisters, 
at  whose  table  the  story  was  told,  meanwhile,  laugh- 
ing heartily  at  the  fun. 

Each  of  the  friends  had  a  gold  watch  stolen  from 
him  while  in  the  Hospital:  not  a  solitary  instance  of 
such  sacrilege  practised  upon  Dr.  Muhlenberg,  who 
could  never  be  withheld  from  taking  strange  young 
men  for  prayer  and  counsel  into  his  private  room, 
nor  from  leaving  them  there  if  intermediately  called 


374  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

off;  so  making  an  easy  opportunity  for  the  ill-dis- 
posed, and  which,  in  several  notable  instances,  was 
taken  advantage  of.  Besides,  both  these  excellent 
doctors  had  a  habit  of  hanging  their  watches  on  a 
nail  in  the  room,  instead  of  carrying  them  on  their 
persons.  Close  together,  within  a  week  perhaps,  the 
two  watches  were  taken,  undoubtedly  by  the  same 
hand.  Dr.  Muhlenberg,  when  he  found  his  gone,  said, 
"  And  it  was  my  brother's.  Ah,  well ! "  and  then  went 
on  to  expatiate  on  his  grief  that  the  young  man  in 
whom  he  had  felt  so  interested  should  have  so  disap- 
pointed him.  Dr.  Cruse  had  tender  associations  with 
his  gold  watch  also.  "  Well,  well !  it  was  given  by  my 
wife  to  our  son," — both  long  dead, — "  but  '  Sic  transit 
gloria  mundi.'"  The  two  friends  were  well  paired  in 
such  matters. 

In  the  September  preceding  Dr.  Cruse's  death  (1865), 
Dr.  Muhlenberg  wrote  and  circulated  anonymously  a 
paper  of  some  four  pages,  entitled  "An  Olive  Branch," 
pleading  for  the  church  in  the  South  in  view  of  the 
approaching  General  Convention.  Widely  as  this  fly- 
leaf was  scattered  the  distribution  was  accomplished 
with  such  studious  secrecy  that  its  authorship  was 
never  known.  As  illustrative  both  of  its  author,  and 
of  the  interesting  times  in  which  it  was  written,  the 
paper  is  subjoined: 

"AN  OLIVE  BRANCH. 

"All  Christians  in  the  Northern  and  prosperous  States 
of  the  Union,  must  sympathize  in  the  sufferings  at 


AN   OLIVE    BRANCH.  375 

the  South  occasioned  by  the  recent  war.  As  a  war 
between  brethren,  between  fellow-citizens  and  fellow- 
Christians,  while  we  knew  it  to  be  as  righteous  as  it 
was  inevitable,  we  yet  felt  it  to  be  so  unnatural  that 
at  times  we  almost  wished  for  peace  on  any  terms. 
We  dared  not  surrender  the  very  being  of  the  Nation 
and  the  dearest  interests  of  humanity,  and  that  rec- 
onciled us  to  what  our  souls  abhorred.  Of  malice  or 
hatred  towards  our  self-made  foes  we  were  conscious 
we  were  entirely  free.  We  resisted  all  rising  feelings 
of  revengefulness  towards  them,  contending  simply  for 
the  right  and  only  because  it  was  the  right. 

"And  now  how  shall  we  prove  that  we  were  thus 
single-hearted?  How  shall  we  prove  that  in  our  hos- 
tility there  was  no  malignity — that  in  our  antagonists 
we  had  no  personal  enemies?  Obviously  one,  among 
other  ways,  is,  to  be  forward  in  acts  of  good-will  tow- 
ards them,  generously  to  succor  them  in  the  distress  of 
which  they  compelled  us  to  be  the  cause,  to  help  them 
all  we  can  to  repair  the  ravages  of  our  armies  bound 
on  their  work  of  death  for  the  country's  life ;  and  espe- 
cially to  promote  all  the  agencies  and  appliances  for 
making  their  former  race  of  bondmen  a  race  of  indus- 
trious freedmen.  By  these  means  let  us  show  that 
our  Christianity  has  survived  the  terrible  ordeal;  that 
the  war,  with  all  its  enormities,  has  not  depraved  or 
hardened  us;  and  that  if  we  fought  with  the  persist- 
ence of  men  who  welcomed  their  own  rather  than 
their  country's  death,  it  was  all  the  while  with  the 
charity  of  Christian  men.  So,  indeed,  to  a  great  ex- 


376  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

tent  we  are  doing.  Liberality  in  no  stinted  measures 
is  flowing  Southward.  Let  it  flow  on  still  more  copi- 
ously. Next  to  providing  for  the  brave  men  and  their 
families,  among  ourselves,  who  have  been  disabled  or 
bereaved  by  the  war,  this  ministry  to  our  brethren 
no  longer  in  arms  against  us,  might  well  be  for  the 
time  a  leading  charity  of  the  day.  It  requires  more 
than  the  munificence  of  individuals,  noble  as  that  has 
already  been.  It  requires  co-operation  and  concert  of 
action,  which  also  it  largely  has — but  to  be  thoroughly 
done  it  must  have  more  of  such  action,  especially  in 
the  religious  and  ecclesiastical  field.  This  brings  us 
to  our  present  object,  which  is  to  suggest  that  the 
approaching  General  Convention  of  our  church  take 
early  action  in  the  matter,  and  adopt  measures  for 
interesting  the  congregations  generally  in  the  North- 
ern States  in  behalf  of  the  wasted  churches  at  the 
South.  Why  might  there  not  be  a  Southern  Church 
Aid  Commission,  with  its  branches  north  and  west? 
Why  should  not  the  contribution  of  liberal  funds  to 
such  a  commission,  enabling  it  to  act  extensively,  be 
set  forth  as  a  paramount  obligation  of  loyal  church- 
men, whose  means  the  war  has  scarcely  touched,  and 
many  of  whom  it  has  enriched  ?  Why  should  not  the 
bishops  make  this  one  of  the  topics  of  their  triennial 
pastoral?  Some  formal  action  of  the  kind  proposed 
by  the  Convention  would  demonstrate  that  we  are  in 
earnest  in  desiring  to  heal  the  breach  in  Israel.  It 
would  do  more  than  any  thing  else  actually  to  heal 
that  breach.  In  fact,  it  would  be  the  right  prelim- 


HO W  BEST  TO  HEAL  THE  BREACH.     377 

inary  measure  towards  a  restoration  of  our  ecclesi- 
astical unity.  It  would  be  a  practical  advance  on 
our  part  towards  that  'consummation  devoutly  to  be 
wished  for';  and,  further,  what  a  worthy  accompani- 
ment would  it  be  of  the  thanksgivings  of  the  Con- 
vention for  the  return  of  peace  in  the  suppression  of 
the  rebellion,  in  the  reunion  of  the  States,  and  in  the 
end  of  that  which  awhile  rent  them  asunder.  Nor 
let  our  zeal  in  so  Christian  a  movement  be  dampened 
by  such  sentiments  as  appear  in  the  recent  letter  of 
one  of  the  Southern  bishops.  From  his  official  posi- 
tion he  may  be  regarded  as  the  spokesman  of  the 
Southern  Church.  That  would  be  a  mistake.  He  does 
not,  in  all  he  says,  utter  the  unanimous  voice  of  the 
Clergy  and  Laity  in  the  recently  Confederate  States.* 

*  "They  would  not  all  so  confront  us  with  the  memory  'especially 
of  their  'beloved  Polk.'  To  the  question,  'whether  he  did  right  in 
again  drawing  the  sword  which  he  once  had  laid  sheathed  on  the 
altar,'  they  would  not  all  answer  (as  Bishop  Elliott  says  he  still  does, 
by  telling  us  that  he  is  glad  that  his  sermon  on  the  death  of  Bishop 
Polk  was  republished  in  the  Christian  Witness),  '  Yes— a  thousand 
times,  yes — in  defence  of  the  sacred  trust  of  Slavery.'  Leaving  it  to  our 
own  Christian  delicacy  not  to  'disturb  the  ashes  of  the  dead,'  they 
would  not  so  peremptorily  lay  down  the  terms  of  fraternizing  with 
us:  'not  a  word  of  obloquy  or  dispraise.'  Nor  do  all  our  Southern 
brethren  feel  that  returning  to  the  Union  is  to  'submit  to  the  yoke 
prepared'  for  them,  coolly  telling  us  that  'the  struggle  was  forced 
upon'  them,  and  that  they  did  'not  rejoice'  in  the  result.  For  the 
most  part,  however,  Bishop  Elliott's  letter  is  sensible  and  just.  Both 
sides  will  yet  see  eye  to  eye.  In  the  meanwhile  let  us  dwell  on  what, 
in  due  time,  will  bring  us  together,  rather  than  on  what  would  keep 
us  apart." 


378  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS   MUHLENBERG. 

Letters  have  been  received  from  Southern  churchmen, 
breathing  a  very  different  spirit.  However  that  may 
be,  let  us  do  our  part.  Let  us  stretch  forth  our  hands 
with  substantial  peace-offerings;  and  that  with  no  air 
of  conscious  magnanimity,  but  in  Christian  meekness 
and  love,  confessing  it  a  privilege  and  a  duty.  By 
gracious  and  conciliatory  words ;  none,  however,  which 
would  compromise  our  sense  of  the  arch-heresy  and 
schism  of  secession,  or  of  our  abomination  of  that 
which  lay  at  the  root  of  secession — by  all  kindly  over- 
tures consistent  with  self-respect  and  conscious  recti- 
tude, and  yet  in  the  spirit  of  our  religion,  let  us  show 
that  we  long  to  meet  our  separated  brothers  again, 
and  with  them  once  more  to  'take  sweet  counsel  to- 
gether and  walk  in  the  house  of  God  as  friends.'  Thus 
let  not  the  war  be  prolonged  by  war  in  the  church. 
Thus  let  the  world  see  that  if  we  had  to  do  battle 
even  with  those  of  the  same  household  of  faith,  it  was 
not  in  the  spirit  of  the  world;  and  thus  let  them  also 
be  convinced  that  in  the  hottest  of  the  fight,  we  had 
no  bitterness  towards  them  in  our  hearts.  If  Chris- 
tendom has  been  shocked  by  fratricidal  carnage  within 
its  borders,  as  wide  and  as  dreadful  as  any  on  record, 
let  it  now  see  the  compensation  in  a  consequent  and 
unparalleled  out-pouring  of  fraternal  benevolence;  its 
waters,  for  being  awhile  dammed  up,  all  the  more 
rushing  forth  to  fertilize  the  regions  which  from  dread- 
ful necessity  the  fire  and  sword  had  laid  waste.  Be 
it  that  the  war,  considered  in  itself,  has  been  one  of 
the  darkest  pages  in  the  history  of  the  world;  then 


CROWNING   EVENT   OF   CONVENTION.  379 

let  this  sequel  of  the  war,  on  our  part,  be  one  of  the 
brightest  and  loveliest  pages  in  the  annals  of  the 
Church. 

"A  UNION  MAN  IN  CHURCH  AND  STATE. 

"Sept.,  1865." 

The  General  Convention  to  which  this  missive  was 
anticipatory  met  in  St.  Andrew's  Church,  Phila.,  and 
was  in  session  from  Oct.  4th  to  Oct.  24th  (1865).  "The 
crowning  event  of  the  Convention,"  says  its  official 
chronicler,  "was  the  reunion  of  the  church,  which 
had  been,  in  fact,  separated  by  the  independent  action 
of  the  Southern  dioceses  during  the  civil  war."*  Pos- 
sibly Dr.  Muhlenberg's  loving  "Olive  Branch,"  by 
influencing  the  general  sentiment,  indirectly  did  its 
part  towards  this  happy  issue;  but  to  what  extent, 
supposing  that  a  fact,  must  be  judged  by  those  familiar 
with  the  working  of  men's  minds  at  the  time. 

*  Perry's  "Hand-book  of  the  General  Convention  of  the  Prot.  Epis. 
Church." 


CHAPTER   XXII. 

1865-1866. 

Keeps  up  with  the  Christian  Thought  of  the  Day. — Literary  Ability. — 
«  Christ  and  the  Bible."—  "  The  Woman  and  Her  Accusers."— Ten  years 
without  Verse-making. — Later  Compositions  in  Music  and  Poetry. — 
Talent  for  Improvising. — Muhlenbergianae. — Satire  and  Mimicry. — Old 
Quin. — Tact  in  Reproving. — "Deliver  us  from  Evil." — Permission  to  go 
to  the  Theatre. — Ingenious  Argument. — The  Requiem  Mass. — Fluctua- 
tions of  Temper. — Portrait  by  Huntingdon. — Mr.  Minturn's  Death. — 
"The  Poor  Man's  Friend  and  Mine." — Mr.  Minturn's  Distinguishing 
Traits. — Anecdote  by  Bishop  Potter. — A  Short  Funeral  Sermon. — The 
Hospital  Burial  Plot. 

WHILE  Dr.  Muhlenberg's  sympathies  were  thus  keenly 
and  practically  alive  to  every  issue  of  the  time,  vital  to 
his  fellow-men,  his  mind  and  intellect  kept  thoroughly 
up  with  the  Christian  thought  of  the  day.  The  per- 
sonal cares  and  duties  with  which  he  burdened  himself 
in  developing  his  benevolent  enterprises,  allowed  him 
nothing  of  the  scholar's  seclusion  and  literary  absorp- 
tion. Nor,  if  he  had  possessed  the  leisure,  was  such 
his  bent.  Yet  he  read  much  and  rapidly ;  not  passing 
by  probably  any  new  publication  worth  reading  on 
the  subjects  dearest  to  his  heart,  that  is  to  say,  which 
touched  "the  faith,  the  manhood,  the  freedom,  the 
charity,  of  Christ's  kingdom."  He  read  very  quickly, 


LITERARY  ABILITY.  381 

possessing  himself  almost  intuitively  of  the  mind  of 
his  author,  and  marking  numerous  passages  for  re- 
perusal,  before  it  would  seem  possible  he  could  have 
glanced  at  them.  The  activity  of  his  pen  through  the 
busy  years  of  the  Church  of  the  Holy  Communion  and 
St.  Luke's  Hospital  is  also  striking,  though  he  never 
elaborated  continuous  volumes.  His  prose  writings 
throughout  consist  of  thoughtful  essays,  or  discourses 
bearing  upon  the  religious,  moral,  or  social  questions 
of  the  day;  and  more  particularly  those  comprehended 
in  the  Memorial  to  the  House  of  Bishops.  A  lighter 
production  was  his  "  Ketro-prospectus,"  or,  as  it  is  some- 
times called,  "Dream  of  St.  Johnland,"  in  1864,  wherein 
his  latent  graphic  and  dramatic  power  has,  in  a  simple 
way,  a  very  congenial  field,  admirably  and  charmingly 
occupied. 

"As  an  accomplished  man  of  letters,"  writes  one, 
whose  beautiful  portraiture  of  his  revered  friend  has 
been  more  than  once  referred  to  in  these  pages,*  "he 
stands  in  the  best  ranks  of  our  clergy.  His  writings 
show  a  clearness  of  thought,  as  well  as  a  simple  grace 
of  style,  rarely  surpassed.  Yet  his  was  not  properly 
the  mind  of  the  theologian  or  the  scholar.  He  had, 
indeed,  a  living  interest  in  the  scriptural  and  doctrinal 
inquiries  which  employ  the  intellect  of  our  time.  I 
can  give  no  better  example  than  his  essay  on  inspira- 
tion, published  under  the  title  "Christ  and  the  Bible," 
where  he  maintained  what  has  been  called  the  dy- 

*  Kev.  Dr.  E.  A.  Washburn,  in  his  sermon  after  Dr.  Muhlenberg's 
decease. 


382  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

namic  view,  instead  of  the  mechanical  one  of  our  past 
theology.  His  position  is  abreast  of  the  most  scientific 
thought  on  that  hard  question;  but  the  practical  tone 
of  his  reasoning,  clear  as  a  brook,  so  that  the  simplest 
can  read  it,  and  yet  more,  his  glowing  faith  in  Christ, 
show  his  mental  quality.  There  was,  as  in  all  such 
minds,  a  wonderful  insight  ....  a  moral  vision  that 
grasped  at  once  the  conclusions  which  the  logician 
reaches  by  long  marches.  .  .  .  His  intellect  was 
bathed  in  the  love  of  Christ ;  and  withal  so  honest,  so 
straightforward,  so  free  from  sophistry  or  dogmatic 
narrowness,  that  his  listeners  rose  always  with  enlarged 
thought  and  with  a  sweeter  spirit.  Nor  was  he,  again, 
a  giant  in  the  pulpit,  like  a  Bossuet  or  Lacordaire.  He 
had  the  inspiration  that  is  greater  than  art,  and  of- 
ten rises  to  eloquence.  Many  will  recall  his  sermons, 
brimming  with  fresh  thought,  with  the  tenderness  of 
Christ's  heart,  and  that  quaint  yet  reverent  humor  so 
akin  to  his  cheerful  nature.  What  better  model  have 
we  of  chaste  power  than  his  discourse  on  the  woman 

amid  the  Pharisees? " 

This  last,  a  remarkable  sermon  entitled  "  The  Wom- 
an and  her  Accusers,"  was  originally  preached  to  a 
congregation  of  men  only,  in  the  Church  of  the  Holy 
Communion,  to  aid,  by  means  of  a  subsequent  collec- 
tion, the  pioneer  efforts  of  the  late  Mrs.  Sarah  Rich- 
mond for  the  rescue  of  fallen  women.  It  was  after- 
wards modified  somewhat,  and  delivered  to  the  usual 
mixed  congregations  of  several  of  the  churches  of  New 
York  and  Brooklyn,  for  the  benefit  of  the  Midnight 


ABHORRENCE    OF   QUARTETTES.  383 

Mission,  to  which  it  brought  considerable  revenue.  A 
lecture  on  Congregational  Singing,  "a  specimen  of  his 
delightful  humor  and  delicate  irony,"  wherein  he  ex- 
presses his  abhorrence  of  a  quartette,  did  not  accom- 
plish as  much  as  he  hoped  for,  in  that  towards  which 
it  was  directed.* 

In  the  Christmas  Ballad  to  his  school-sons  on  the 
occasion  of  their  gift  of  the  picture,  described  in  a 
previous  chapter,  he  tells  them  that  he  had  scarcely 
penned  a  rhyme  since  they  were  boys  at  school;  and 
it  is  rather  a  remarkable  fact  that,  from  his  surrender 
of  St.  Paul's  College  to  the  opening  of  St.  Luke's 
Hospital,  an  interval  of  more  than  ten  years,  there 
was  an  almost  entire  suspension  of  his  accustomed 
verse-making,  and  of  the  correspondent  musical  com- 
positions ;  but  in  the  year  1859,  the  gift  seemed  to  pos- 
sess him  anew,  and  with  superior  force,  both  as  to 
poesy  and  music,  some  of  his  strongest  verses  and 
best  musical  productions  being  composed  within  the 
next  decade. 

In  a  little  published  collection  of  his  verses,  there  are 
five  pieces  in  succession  dated  1859.  The  most  inter- 
esting of  these  are :  "  Lines  to  a  dear  friend  recently  de- 
prived of  her  sight,"  "  Come  follow  me,"  and  a  "  Letter 
paternal  to  two  school-sons  about  to  become  church  fa- 
thers," that  is,  to  Bishop  Bedell  and  Bishop  Odenheimer, 
who  were  consecrated  on  the  same  day.f  About  the 

*  See  "Ev.  Cath.  Papers,  Second  Series." 

t  See,  "I  would  not  live  alway,  and  other  Verses."  A.  D.  F.  Ran- 
dolph and  Co.,  N.  Y. 


384  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

same  time  he  composed  his  fine  congregational  Te 
Deum;  and  a  sweet  tune  which  he  called  "St.  Ber- 
nard," designing  it  for  the  words  "Jesus,  the  very 
thought  of  thee."  Of  his  compositions  of  this  period, 
of  music  and  words  combined,  the  following  are  the 
chief:  "The  Kepublican  Battle  Hymn  and  Choral 
March,"  the  "President's  Hymn,"  the  "Advent  Cho- 
ral," the  "St.  Johnland  Vespers,  or  Shades  of  Even- 
ing," and  the  "  Christmas  Choral,  or  Glorious  Birthday." 

Next,  in  the  order  of  time,  to  this  last,  was  his  evan- 
gelized version  of  "  I  would  not  live  alway,"  described 
in  the  history  of  the  original  hymn.*  It  was  written 
in  the  year  1871.  The  first  three  verses  of  this  are 
given  in  fac-simile,  on  the  opposite  page. 

He  was  always  addicted  to  impromptu  rhyming. 
Verses  and  couplets,  epigrammatic  or  proverbial,  were 
constantly  improvised  on  some  passing  occurrence,  or 
in  connection  with  the  subject  of  conversation  at  the 
moment.  Here  is  one  penned  for  a  brother  clergyman, 
in  a  conversation  on  the  opposition  of  Science  to 
Eevelation. 

"IMPROMPTU  TO  A  PHILOSOPH. 

"Jesus  Christ  was  here  below. 
He  died — he  rose — and  that  to  know, 
Tho'  nothing  more,  would  be  enow 
For  faith  to  live  upon  and  grow—- 
Our Gospel  minimum  doth  so 
More  than  your  maximum  bestow." 

*  See  page  71. 


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MUHLENBERGIAN&.  387 

The  various  circumstances  giving  rise  to  the  follow- 
ing are  easily  imagined: 

"O  take  tliee  heed,  and  never  say, 
I  have  too  much  to  do  to  pray, 
Lest  half  thy  work  be  thrown  away, 
And  thou  at  last  lose  all  thy  pay." 

"Poverty's  mite 
With  the  Lord  is  all  right, 
For  'tis  poverty's  might; 
But  when  wealth  gives  a  mite, 
It  is  vile  in  his  sight." 

"When  an  editor's  shears 
Clip  bits  from  another, 
And  no  credit  appears, 
Sheer  theft,  ain't  it,  brother?" 

"I  guess  it  will  all  come  right; 
Remember  we  don't  walk  by  sight; 
In  small  things  as  well  as  in  great 
With  the  patience  of  faith  we  must  wait." 

"Gathered  round  the  plenteous  table, 
While  we  own  how  blest  we  are, 
Make  us  glad,  as  we  are  able, 
With  the  poor  our  loaves  to  share." 

"Saith  Pauper  to  Dives,  'I  fear  that  too  great 
Is  the  bulk  of  your  gold  for  the  needle-eyed  gate.' 
Said  Dives  to  Pauper,  'And  you,  with  your  pride, 
Tho'  ragged,  too  swollen  for  getting  inside.'" 

"As  straight  to  her  harbor  the  steam  vessel  glides, 
Tho'  dead  in  her  face  beat  the  winds  and  the  tides; 
So,  duty-ward  bound,  in  yourself  have  the  force, 
('Gainst  all  forces  without),  for  your  right  onward  course." 
25 


388  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

"In  seeking  favor,  Lord,  with  thee, 
This  is  my  only,  only  plea: 
Thou  art  well  please'd  with  thy  Son, 
And  I,  by  faith,  with  him  am  one." 

Many  pages  might  be  filled  with  these  disjecta  mem- 
bra. Dr.  Muhlenberg  used  to  laugh  at  the  friend  who, 
when  she  could  catch  them,  never  failed  to  jot  them 
down  for  future  application,  calling  them  her  Hulden- 
lergiance.  The  matter  so  preserved  often  proved  useful 
in  filling  chinks  in  the  columns  of  the  Evangelical  Cath- 
olic, and  Brotherly  Words. 

His  mirthful  nature  and  bright,  sportive  ways  added 
many  a  charm  to  the  intrinsic  value  of  his  companion- 
ship. He  had,  also,  no  small  power  for  satire  and  mim- 
icry; the  first  of  these  he  kept  in  severe  control,  care- 
fully avoiding  every  use  of  it  that  might  wound  or 
irritate ;  and  constantly  chiding  himself  when  he  found 
he  had  fallen  into  too  sarcastic  a  vein;  the  latter, 
mimicry,  he  never  deliberately  indulged  in.  Occasion- 
ally an  exhibition  would  involuntarily  flash  out,  reveal- 
ing the  hidden  talent.  One  day,  at  a  meeting  in  his 
house,  of  a  benevolent  society  of  the  Church  of  the 
Holy  Communion,  some  one  asked  about  "Old  Quin." 
Said  "  Quin  "  was  a  curious,  wizen-faced  old  pensioner, 
with  ragged  hair,  shaggy  eyebrows,  and  a  strange  dac- 
tyl and  spondee  gait  that  threw  first  one  shoulder  up 
to  his  ears  and  then  the  other.  "He  was  here  this 
morning,"  said  Dr.  M— — ,  and  in  an  instant  "Old 
Quin"  crossed  the  floor  in  front  of  the  company — 
"Old  Quin"  to  the  life,— nothing  of  Dr.  Muhlenberg 


OLD   QUIN.  389 

remained.  It  was  a  complete  metamorphosis,  and,  ap- 
preciating the  physical  contrast  between  the  personi- 
fier  and  the  personified,  marvellous.  "  A  loud  smile  " 
from  those  present  and  "  Old  Quin"  vanished.  The  pas- 
tor, with  unusual  gravity,  resumed  business,  adding 
something  possibly  to  the  old  man's  next  gratuity  by 
way  of  atonement. 

He  had  much  delicate  tact  in  the  difficult  duty  of 
Christian  reproof,  though  he  invariably  dreaded  the  ex- 
ercise of  it.  Sometimes  the  interview  with  one,  whom 
he  had  desired  to  see  for  this  purpose,  would  be  so  in- 
teresting and  pleasant  that  none  but  agreeable  emo- 
tions were  excited  while  in  his  presence.  Afterwards, 
and  revolving  what  had  passed,  as  few  would  find 
themselves  able  to  avoid  doing  after  such  a  conversa- 
tion, the  other  party  would  see  plainly  that  he  had 
been  helped  to  sift  himself  thoroughly,  and  was  unmis- 
takably rebuked. 

A  little  farther  on  than  the  time  of  which  we  are 
speaking,  that  is,  on  the  day  when  the  arrest  of  the 
arch-peculator  Tweed,  at  Vigo,  was  cabled  to  New 
York,  while  seated  at  tea  with  the  Sisters,  one  of  the 
family  entered,  who  told  the  rest  of  the  capture.  A 
ripple  of  laughter  went  round  the  table  and  was  fol- 
lowed by  more  of  talk  about  certain  mal-feasances  than 
was  at  all  common  to  that  company. 

He  looked  uneasy,  and  hurrying  the  conclusion  of 
the  meal,  added  emphatically,  after  the  usual  thanks 
for  the  repast:  "And  may  the  Lord  deliver  us  from 
evil!" 


390  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

Not  another  word  was  said,  but  every  Sister  pres- 
ent understood  and  heeded  the  reproof. 

Again :  one  of  the  young  men  employed  in  the  Hos- 
pital, asking  permission  of  Dr.  Muhlenberg  to  go  to 
Booth's  Theatre,  received  rather  a  stern  refusal.  Some 
time  later,  probably  after  informing  himself  what  the 
performance  of  the  evening  was  to  be,  Dr.  Muhlenberg 
said  to  him,  "  You  can  go  and  see  Booth  to-night,  but 
say  nothing  about  it  in  the  house." 

"  Keturning  towards  midnight,"  said  the  young  man, 
"the  Doctor  himself  opened  the  door  to  me.  He  had 
waited  up  two  hours  beyond  his  usual  time  of  retiring 
that  the  circumstance  might  not  be  known,  and  this 
so  impressed  me,  that  I  never  again  wished  for  the 
theatre." 

He  had  an  innocently  artful  way  of  pushing  home  an 
argument,  sometimes  without  any  discussion  of  it.  An 
old  friend  and  much  respected  brother  clergyman, 
whose  exclusive  church  views  had  in  past  times  been 
the  subject  of  many  a  friendly  brush  between  the  two, 
after  visiting  a  parishioner  at  the  Hospital,  stopped  to 
say  good-by  to  the  Pastor.  The  latter,  with  a  cordial 
grasp  of  the  hand,  referring  to  a  conversation  of  some 
time  back,  said,  "Doctor,  what  is  your  idea  now  of 
our  church's  place  in  the  great  gathering  above?" 

"  Why,"  replied  the  good  man,  "  I  believe  it  will  be 
this  way:  Episcopalians  in  the  first  circle  around  the 
throne,  and  Presbyterians  next,  and  so  on." 

"Then  you  do  expect  other  Christians  to  be  there 
too,  only  not  in  so  much  honor." 


FLUCTUATION   OF  SPIRITS.  391 

"Yes." 

"  Well,  then,  since  after  all  there's  a  possibility  of  so 
much  closeness  in  heaven,  wouldn't  it  be  well  to  be- 
come a  little  acquainted  on  earth?" 

Again:  one  of  his  former  pupils,  seceding  to  Rome, 
had  joined  the  Paulist  Fathers.  He  was  a  lovely, 
saintly  man,  and  for  some  time  the  regular  visitor  to 
St.  Luke's  when  Roman  Catholic  patients  desired  the 
ministrations  of  their  church.  At  his  death,  the  fra- 
ternity invited  Dr.  Muhleiiberg,  as  an  old  friend,,  to  at- 
tend a  requiem  mass  for  the  repose  of  his  soul.  Dr. 
Muhlenberg,  in  declining  the  invitation,  assured  the 
superior  of  the  house  that  he  was  so  satisfied  the  soul 
of  the  departed  was  in  repose  in  Paradise  that  there 
would  be  no  meaning  in  his  uniting  with  them  on 
the  occasion  named. 

With  such  a  temperament  as  Dr.  Muhlenberg's,  some 
fluctuation  of  spirits  was  unavoidable.  A  high-tide  of 
feeling  one  day,  inevitably  brought  an  ebb-tide  later, 
and  sometimes  he  disappointed  people  by  a  certain  va- 
riableness of  humor,  or  perhaps  simply  that  he  was 
not  so  delightful  in  a  certain  interview  as  on  some 
previous  occasion.  He  had  his  moods  of  abstraction 
too.  Pre-occupation  with  some  nascent  scheme  might 
occasionally  have  explained  them,  particularly  as  re- 
garded his  manner  to  strangers,  but  not  always.  Like 
other  sons  of  Adam,  the  dust  of  his  native  clod  would 
now  and  again  settle  on  the  sunshiny  sweetness  of 
his  ordinary  temper. 

This  change  of  mood  or  gathering  up  within  himself, 


392  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

so  to  name  it,  was,  whether  an  infirmity  or  not,  often 
a  help  and  protection  to  him,  in  his  intercourse  with 
the  vast  number  and  variety  of  persons  with  whom,  in 
the  course  of  his  Christian  and  benevolent  enterprises, 
he  was  brought  in  contact.  His  sympathetic  and  en- 
thusiastic nature,  would,  not  unfrequently,  throw  itself 
into  the  wishes  and  feelings  of  one  seeking  his  aid  or 
counsel,  to  a  degree,  which,  on  after  reflection,  seemed 
unwise.  At  the  next  interview  there  would  be  a 
cloudiness  or  distance,  perhaps,  and  the  other  party, 
thrown  back  upon  himself,  would  feel  some  disappoint- 
ment; but  wherever  there  were  earnestness,  reality,  and 
strength  of  purpose  enough  to  prompt  an  endurance  of 
his  apparent  coolness,  and  to  persevere  in  the  genuine 
purpose  for  which  the  interview  was  sought,  there 
would  come  a  reaction,  unlimited  in  its  kind  encour- 
agement. On  the  other  hand,  if  there  was  nothing 
stable  in  the  person  who  at  first  so  interested  him,  it 
thus  became  apparent.  Thus,  whether  voluntary  or 
involuntary  on  Dr.  Muhlenberg's  part,  this  "way"  of 
his  was  often  very  serviceable ;  notwithstanding  he  was, 
by  reason  of  it,  sometimes  charged  with  changeableness. 
In  the  year  1865,  Mr.  Cyrus  Curtiss,  one  of  the  Vice 
Presidents  of  St.  Luke's,  proposed  to  Mr.  Minturn,  to 
present  a  portrait  of  Dr.  Muhlenberg,  by  Huntingdon, 
to  the  Trustees  for  the  Hospital.  Mr.  Minturn,  in  the 
name  of  his  peers,  accepted  the  agreeable  and  valuable 
gift,  and  Dr.  Muhlenberg  was  prevailed  upon  to  sit 
for  his  likeness,  but  stipulated  that  during  his  lifetime 
Mr.  Curtiss  should  keep  the  painting  in  his  own  house ; 


"THE  POOR  MAN'S  FRIEND  AND  MINE."        393 

an  arrangement  which  was  not  set  aside  until  the  Pas- 
tor reached  his  eightieth  birthday.  A  few  months  after 
this  negotiation  respecting  Dr.  Muhlen berg's  portrait, 
Mr.  Miriturn  was  taken  suddenly  away.  On  the  9th  of 
January,  1866,  he  was  seized  with  apoplexy,  and  ex- 
pired in  a  few  hours.  Dr.  Muhlenberg  did  not  know 
of  his  illness  until  he  was  dead.  It  was  a  great  shock, 
for  the  two  men  loved  each  other.  There  were  many 
sympathies  in  common  between  the  Evangelical  Cath- 
olic Doctor  and  the  princely  Christian  merchant,  and 
the  essential  tie  that  bound  them  to  each  other  was 
beautifully  indicated  in  the  dedicatory  words  of  the 
first  St.  Johnlaiid  pamphlet  (1864)  thus:  "To  Robert 
B.  Minturn,  the  Poor  Man's  Friend  and  Mine." 

The  death  of  Mr.  Minturn  took  a  joy  out  of  the 
Hospital  Pastor's  life.  In  the  initiation  of  St.  Luke's 
the  two  had  grown  closer  together,  and  Dr.  Muhl- 
enberg often  found  it  a  refreshment,  after  his  ear- 
liest morning  duties,  to  "run  down,"  as  he  would 
phrase  it,  to  Twelfth  St.  and  Fifth  Avenue,  for  a 
word  with  his  friend  on  some  of  those  many  schemes 
for  the  good  of  their  fellow-men,  in  which  they  were 
mutually  interested.  Mr.  Minturn,  though  actively  en- 
gaged in  commercial  business,  never  wearied  in  works 
of  practical  benevolence.  His  thoughtful  head  and 
large  heart  were  given  to  such,  with  the  greatest 
earnestness  and  sincerity,  even  in  his  hours  of  relaxa- 
tion from  the  counting-house,  and  he  was  extensively 
occupied  in  helping  forward  or  governing  a  vast  variety 
of  agencies  for  the  benefit  of  the  poor  and  afflicted. 


394  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

"The  loss,"  wrote  Dr.  Muhlenberg,  "seems  irrepara- 
ble. Who  can  repair  it?  Who  now  will  be  our  fore- 
most man  in  enterprises  of  good?  To  whom  now  shall 
we  go  first  in  any  new  project  of  humanity?  Who 
now  shall  be  the  head  to  grace  the  Hospital  (St. 
Luke's),  to  which  his  munificence  was  the  first  pledge 
of  its  success,  and  of  which  he  has  ever  been  the  po- 
tential friend?  Who  now  will  see  that  the  funds 
never  fail  of  that  vast  organization,  'The  Society  for 
Improving  the  Condition  of  the  Poor,'  spreading  its 
network  of  discriminating  charity  over  the  whole  of 
the  metropolis?  Who  will  be  his  successor,  with  his 
adamantine  integrity,  in  places  where,  alas,  such  virtue 
is  rare?" 

There  was  a  brimming-over  pitifulness  in  Mr.  Min- 
turn's  nature.  Dr.  Muhlenberg  related  that,  on  one 
occasion,  walking  "down  town"  with  him,  in  earnest 
conversation,  he  said  abruptly,  in  his  rapid,  eager  man- 
ner, "Stop,  Doctor!  Stop  a  minute."  At  a  short  dis- 
tance, was  a  poor  little  calf,  apparently  but  a  day  or 
two  old,  tottering  and  staggering  between  the  vehicles 
that  thronged  the  street  in  the  vain  attempt  to  keep 
up  with  its  mother;  she,  poor  thing,  being  also  urged 
beyond  her  natural  speed  by  a  cruel  driver.  Dr.  Muhl- 
enberg watched  Mr.  Minturn  cross  to  the  corner  of 
the  street  where  stood  a  wagon  fit  to  carry  the  little 
animal.  The  good  man  had  it  gently  lifted  in,  put 
some  money  into  the  cartman's  hand,  and  then  return- 
ing, without  comment  to  Dr.  Muhlenberg,  resumed 
their  talk. 


"SO   DID   HE."  395 

Dr.  Muhlenberg  would  sometimes  descant  warmly 
on  Mr.  Minturn's  remarkable,  even  painful,  sense  of 
the  responsibility  of  wealth,  largely  and  munificently 
as  he  gave  of  his,  in  all  benevolent  ways.  "'How 
hardly  shall  they  that  have  riches  enter  the  kingdom 
of  heaven'  he  thought  a  fearful  text." 

Again:  "Bishop  Potter  related  to  me,"  said  Dr. 
Muhlenberg,  "as  we  rode  home  together  from  the  fu- 
neral, that  on  one  occasion  when  he  was  on  a  visit  at 
Mr.  Minturn's  house  in  the  country,  he  happened,  at 
family  prayer,  to  open  the  Bible  at  the  parable  of 
Dives  and  Lazarus,  which  he  accordingly  read.  'After 
dinner  on  that  day,'  said  the  bishop,  'when  we  were 
alone,  Mr.  Minturn  recurred  to  it,  observing  it  was  a 
passage  of  Scripture  which  often  alarmed  him.  "A 
very  solemn  one,  indeed,"  I  replied,  and  in  explain- 
ing the  true  import  of  it,  remarked  that  it  was  not 
a  terror  to  the  rich  who  give  as  they  should  of  their 
riches.  "Ah,"  he  at  once  rejoined,  "what  do  any  of 
us  give  but  lthe  crumbs,'  bishop?'" 

Dr.  Muhlenberg,  who  took  part  with  the  bishop  in 
the  funeral  of  his  friend,  gave  out  as  his  text  for  a 
sermon  on  the  occasion,  these  words  from  the  Prophet 
Micah  (vi.  8) — "He  hath  showed  thee,  0  man,  what 
is  good;  and  what  doth  the  Lord  require  of  thee,  but 
to  do  justly,  and  to  love  mercy,  and  to  walk  humbly 
with  thy  God  ?  "  The  sermon  was  doubtless  one  of  the 
shortest  on  record,  consisting  of  simply  three  words, 
emphatically  uttered,  "So  DID  HE."  Nothing  more. 

Mr.  Minturn  had  lived  to  see  St.  Luke's  an  acknowl- 


396  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

edged  success.  It  stood  eminently  before  the  church 
and  the  world,  and  in  virtue  of  the  high  medical  and 
surgical  talent  sedulously  secured  for  it,  achieved,  in 
its  main  office  and  capacity,  distinguished  results.  But 
among  the  thousands  upon  thousands  sheltered  and 
succored  by  its  Charities,  have  been  hundreds  who  were 
taken  in,  only  that  they  might  have  a  comfortable  and 
Christian  place  to  die  in;  and  a  "God's  acre"  for  the 
burial  of  such  was  from  the  beginning  an  appendage 
of  the  Institution. 

There  remain  some  striking  reflections  of  Dr.  Muhlen- 
berg's  with  regard  to  this.  He  writes:  "Some  time 
ago  I  had  occasion  to  visit  St.  Michael's  graveyard,  the 
cemetery  beyond  Astoria,  where  the  remains  of  some 
two  hundred  of  our  departed  lie  interred.  As  I  stood 
on  the  Hospital  plot,  it  was  a  time  for  searchings  of 
heart;  all  here  in  these  rows  of  hillocks  had  been 
under  my  ministerial  charge.  Conscience  asked — How 
had  I  fulfilled  it?  And  did  conscience  answer  as  my 
heart  then  wished?  There  were  whispers  within  of 
reproach  for  opportunities  always  at  hand  but  not 
always  used.  They  were  accusations  of  the  spirit  not 
to  be  silenced.  What  could  they  awaken  but  humility 
and  regrets,  painful,  yet  I  hope  not  unfruitful,  and 
the  same  prayer  for  pardon  that  had  come  from  the  lips 
of  the  poorest  sinner,  whose  dust  and  ashes  were  be- 
neath my  feet?  Still — still  there  was  the  consolation 
that  every  one  of  these  had  heard  the  Gospel  message 
as  clearly  as  I  knew  how  to  utter  it.  In  the  Scripture 
readings  and  exhortations,  in  words  that  all  could 


TRUE    TO   ITS   MOTTO.  397 

understand,  and  be  heard  by  all  in  their  beds  as  well 
as  by  those  before  me,  morning  after  morning,  in  the 
wards,  besides  the  familiar  sermons  in  the  Chapel,  in 
the  texts  constantly  before  their  eyes,  and  in  the  books 
at  their  side,  in  the  words  of  evangelic  love  from  their 
Sister  attendants — if  in  these  they  did  not  learn  the 
way  of  salvation,  and  lay  hold  of  the  hope  set  before 
them,  it  was  because  their  instructed  ears  were  not  the 
avenues  to  their  hearts.  With  all  the  short-comings 
of  its  ministers,  St.  Luke's  has  been  a  Bethesda,  not  to 
the  outer  man  alone.  While  I  feel,  my  Master  knows, 
far  more  of  humiliation  at  what  I  have  left  undone  in 
the  Hospital  than  of  complacency  at  aught  I  have  done 
for  it  or  in  it ;  while  I  am  sure  this  is  the  feeling,  more 
or  less,  of  all  my  associates  in  spiritual  labor,  it  would 
be  wronging  the  grace  of  God,  not  to  acknowledge 
the  many  signs  of  his  blessing,  and  thankfully  to  rejoice 
in  what  he  has  enabled  us  to  do.  The  Hospital  has  not 
ignored  its  motto :  '  Corpus  Sanare  Animam  Salvarc.' " 


CHAPTER   XXIII. 

1866-1869. 

St.  Johnland  Begun.— The  Benjamin  of  his  Works.— The  "Retro-pro- 
spectus." — Christian  Fatalism. — Purchase  of  Farm. — Asks  ten  more 
Years.— A  valued  Birthday  Gift.— His  Golden  Wedding.— Letter  Con- 
gratulatory  and  Retrospective.  —  Funds  for  St.  Johnland.  —  Tact  and 
Principle  in  Money  Matters. — The  Spencer  and  Wolfe  Home. — Three 
Thousand  a  Year.— St.  Johnland's  Gaudy  Day.— "Glorious  Birthday." 
—"Brotherly  Words."— Foundation  of  St.  John's  Inn.— The  Boys' 
House. — Church  of  the  Testimony  of  Jesus. — Munificent  Friends. — 
Laying  Corner-Stone  of  Church.— Declaration  of  Evangelical  Catholic 
Principles. — Verses. 

DR.  MUHLENBERG  was  ill  his  seventieth  year  when  he 
began  St.  Johnland,  but  "his  eye  was  not  dim  nor  his 
natural  force  abated."  His  hair  had  become  snowy 
white,  and  there  was  a  slight  stoop  at  the  shoulders, 
but  he  retained  remarkably  his  freshness  of  spirits  and 
general  alertness  of  bearing.  A  friend  commenting 
about  this  time,  on  the  rapidity  with  which  he  went 
from  his  study  on  the  entrance  floor  of  the  Hospital  to 
the  upper  wards  of  the  great  house,  he  said,  "It  will 
be  all  over  with  me,  when  I  can't  run  upstairs;"  and 
he  still  took  his  walk  of  a  mile  before  his  half-past  six 
o'clock  breakfast.  He  had  ascertained  how  many  cir- 
cuits of  the  Hospital  grounds  made  a  mile,  and  would 
make  the  necessary  number  of  rounds  for  this  amount 


THE   RETRO-PROSPECTUS.  399 

of  exercise,  marking  the  count  with  a  stroke  of  his  stick 
upon  the  stone  abutment  of  the  portico.  This  was  long 
his  habit. 

St.  Johnlaiid  was  the  Benjamin  of  his  numerous 
works,  and  had  a  Benjamin's  portion  of  his  affections. 
The  idea  of  some  such  embodiment  of  Evangelical 
Brotherhood  was  in  his  mind  long  before  it  took  sub- 
stantial form,  dating  almost  as  far  back  as  the  Declara- 
tion of  the  House  of  Bishops  upon  the  Memorial  (1856). 

There  was  the  same  spontaneity  and  naturalness  in 
the  origin  of  this  Church  Village,  that  we  have  seen 
in  his  other  creations.  As  the  thought  of  St.  Luke's 
Hospital  was  inspired  at  the  beginning  of  the  Church 
of  the  Holy  Communion,  by  his  contact  with  the  sick 
poor  in  their  miserable  lodging-places,  so  his  concep- 
tion of  a  St.  Johnland  grew  out  of  his  daily  observation, 
as  a  clergyman  and  philanthropist,  of  the  sore  disad- 
vantages of  the  city  poor,  in  their  tenement -house 
abodes;  and,  concomitant  with  this,  of  his  desire  to 
present  to  the  church  a  living  exemplification  of  the 
principles  of  the  Memorial,  or  Evangelical  Catholicism. 

The  embryo  thought  clothed  itself  in  divers  visions 
more  or  less  akin  to  the  picturing  of  the  "  Ketro-pro- 
spectus,"  *  years  before  he  resorted  to  that  pleasing  and 
ingenious  method  of  presenting  his  ideal  in  print.  He 
found  it  difficult  to  make  even  those  nearest  to  him 
fully  apprehend  what  he  had  in  his  mind.  Clearly  as 
he  wrote,  he  was  not  always  equally  clear  in  conveying 

*  See  Ev.  Cath.  Papers,  First  Series. 


400  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

by  word  of  mouth  the  scope  and  bearing  of  a  new  con- 
ception. His  habit  of  uttering  half  sentences,  and  of 
abruptly  breaking  into  gestures,  induced  by  some  eager 
thought,  reaching  far  beyond  what  he  was  saying,  was 
not  favorable  to  explicitness  in  such  cases.  Besides, 
unique  and  without  precedent  as  was  his  St.  Johnland 
scheme,  it  might  well  demand  some  such  graphic  pre- 
representation  as  he  drew  with  artistic  pen  in  the  pam- 
phlet alluded  to. 

The  "  Ketro-prospectus "  consists  of  two  letters  sup- 
posed to  be  written  by  one  visiting  the  place  ten  years 
after  its  foundation,  and  in  them  is  presented  to  the 
reader,  in  the  most  natural  and  life-like  manner,  a 
living,  breathing,  ideal  St.  Johnland,  full  of  healthful 
activity  and  Christian  beneficence,  such  as  he  con- 
ceived the  actual  would  be  when  thoroughly  estab- 
lished. The  pamphlet  is  pleasant  reading,  if  only  as  a 
fresh,  beautifully  drawn  picture  of  Christian  socialism. 

"Oh,  Doctor,  you  are  a  dreamer  in  this  thing,"  had 
been  said,  in  substance  to  him,  over  and  over  again, 
by  friends  and  brethren,  as  he  tried  to  tell  them  what 
he  meant  to  do.  So  he  quaintly  took  as  the  motto 
of  his  "Ketro-prospectus,"  "Your  old  men  shall  dream 
dreams,"  Acts  ii.  17.  And  when  so  much  of  a  por- 
traiture, as  he  thought  it  necessary  to  anticipate  his 
work  with,  was  completed,  he  added  naively :  "  T  have 
told  my  dream."  Then,  from  these  words,  he  proceeds, 
urgently  and  eloquently,  to  plead  through  terrible  facts 
in  the  social  condition  of  our  city  poor  for  means  for 
its  realization: 


A    FEARFUL    REALITY.  401 

"Shall  it  be  no  more  than  a  dream? 

"Before  answering  the  question,  my  Christian  read- 
er, to  whom  I  beg  to  address  it,  allow  me  to  ask  you 
to  look  at  that  which  is  no  dream.  Let  me  turn  your 
eyes  to  that  which  exists  in  no  aerial  regions  of  the 
brain,  but  in  regions  earthly  enough  and  not  miles 
away  from  your  own  doors.  Look  at  those  quarters 
of  your  city  where  the  people  herd  by  fifties  and 
hundreds  in  a  house,  street  after  street.  Look  at  them 
huddled  together  in  narrow  rooms  with  surroundings 
and  effluvia  where  a  half-hour's  stay  would  sicken 
you.  See  places  which  might  rather  be  stalls  or  sties 
than  human  abodes.  Look  at  the  swarms  of  children 
in  the  streets,  on  the  stoops,  at  the  windows,  half- 
naked  or  in  unwashed  rags.  See  the  crowds  of  rough, 
half-grown  boys  in  knots  at  the  corners,  quick  at  all 
sorts  of  wickedness,  loud  in  foulness  and  blasphemy, 
the  ready  and  the  worst  element  of  your  riots.  Mark 
the  looks  and  the  talk  of  the  populace  of  the  dram- 
shops, and  then  the  exhibitions  of  godlessness,  drunken- 
ness, and  licentiousness  on  the  Lord's  day,  turning  it,  I 
had  almost  said,  into  Satan's  day.  And  why  do  I  ask 
you  to  look  at  such  a  revolting  state  of  things  among 
those  thousands  of  your  neighbors  ?  In  the  hope  that 
aught  which  you  or  I  can  do  will  better  it?  To  pro- 
pose any  scheme  for  its  material  improvement  ?  Alas, 
no.  The  evil  is  too  gigantic  for  any  grasp  of  reform 
at  all  conceivable.  It  calls  for  legislative  interfer- 
ence; and  that,  could  any  practicable  mode  of  me- 
lioration be  shown,  would  call  for  more  public  virtue 


402  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

than  exists.  This  massing  of  human  beings,  prolific 
of  those  vices  and  miseries,  is  profitable  to  too  many 
pockets.  The  exorbitant  rents  of  the  smallest  dens 
or  of  the  larger  tenements  swell  the  gains  of  landlords, 
who  have  the  plea  for  any  amount  of  rapacity,  that 
they  only  meet  a  demand.  Their  receptacles  overflow 
with  those  who  must  have  stopping-places  where  they 
can  get  their  bread.  The  insular  city  can  not  be  ex- 
panded into  space  for  any  fit  or  healthful  housing  of 
the  poor  in  those  quarters  of  it  where  they  must  con- 
sort.* This  stowage  of  souls  and  bodies — our  munici- 
pal disgrace — is,  I  fear,  a  necessity — in  view  of  its 
terrible  evils,  a  dire  necessity — how  dire  we  have  not 
yet  seen. 

"  Our  benevolent,  reformatory,  and  religious  agencies 
do  not  stand  aloof.  They  work  on  with  a  persistent 
zeal,  encouraged  by  the  least  success;  but  any  thing 
like  the  elevation  of  a  whole  locality  is  beyond  their 
hopes.  They  can  not  change  circumstances  and  their 
inevitable  consequences.  They  can  not  remove  causes, 
and,  of  course,  not  effects.  What  they  do  to-day  is 
undone  to-morrow,  to  be  done  again  the  next  day, 
and  then  again  undone.  The  good  seed  is  persever- 
ingly  sown,  but  the  field  is  already  rank  with  tares. 
The  means  of  salvation  are  proffered  and  urged,  but 
amid  overpowering  means  of  destruction.  The  nox- 
ious physical  and  moral  are  ever  acting  and  reacting 

*  Unlike  Philadelphia,  with  innumerable  separate  domiciles  for  its 
laboring  and  mechanic  population— the  chief  beauty  of  that  beautiful 
city. 


NOT  RECONCILED    TO    IT.  403 

with  cumulative  force.  The  cleanliness  which  is  next 
to  godliness,  among  the  degraded  poor  finds  no  place. 
In  filth  sin  is  in  its  element,  and  has  its  most  disgust- 
ing outgrowths. 

"Again,  then,  why  do  I  ask  you  to  look  at  a  state 
of  things  confessedly  so  hopeless?  Hopeless  in  the 
aggregate,  but  not  in  the  particulars.  It  would  be 
sad,  indeed,  if  in  our  dark  delineation  it  was  all  dark; 
dreadful,  if  in  those  masses  of  humanity  it  was  all 
vile.  But  it  is  not.  There  are  green  spots  even  in 
those  deserts,  and  doubtless  far  more  than  we  see. 
The  forbidding  aspects  do  not  indicate  universally 
corresponding  facts.  There  are  exceptions,  and  often 
most  interesting  ones.  Every  here  and  there  are  in- 
dividuals and  families  having  a  keen  sense  of  the 
wretchedness  of  their  condition,  but  powerless  to  es- 
cape it.  Many  of  them  once  used  to  other  modes  of 
life,  while  they  submit  to  their  lot,  yet  for  its  worse 
than  temporal  ills  can  not  be  reconciled  to  it.  Stran- 
gers to  aught  of  domestic  comfort,  they  are  unrepining 
yet  not  without  longings  for  the  sweets  and  decencies 
of  home.  They  are  parents,  and  can  not  be  indifferent 
to  the  perils  of  their  offspring.  They  are  hard  workers. 
They  are  above  begging,  and  to  keep  above  it  they 
must  live  as  and  where  they  do.  For  the  sake  of 
these  it  is  I  show  you  those  hapless  multitudes — these 
among  them,  yet  not  of  them;  these  toiling,  suffering 
poor;  these  Christians  steadfast  amid  unchristian  in- 
fluences and  antichristian  forces  which  would  try  a 

more  enlightened  faith  than  theirs;  these  fellow-mem- 
26 


404  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

bers  of  the  household  of  faith,  perchance  of  your  own 
particular  communion.  To  the  rescue  of  these  and 
theirs,  whom  they  love  as  you  love  yours,  I  invoke 
you.  For  these  I  beg  Christian  homes  and  privileges, 
and  some  little  share  of  family  enjoyments,  to  which 
you  can  not  think  they  have  forfeited  every  right. 
You  will  not  say  that  their  poverty  is  their  righteous 
excommunication.  To  show  how  they  may  be  res- 
cued, I  have  dreamed  of  them,  transplanted  by  your 
bounty,  to  where  they  can  live,  and  not  merely  exist. 
I  have  pictured  their  colony,  with  its  accessories,  such 
as  I  have  long  pleased  myself  with  imagining,  and 
as  time  might  bring  forth.  Whether  it  is  all  likely  to 
be  realized,  whether  some  of  the  forms  of  the  vision 
are  not  fond  fancies  rather  than  probable  future  facts, 
matters  not.  Set  down  as  much  as  you  please  to  the 
score  of  imagination;  amend,  change,  curtail  as  you 
will,  only  saving  the  one  main  idea — a  Christian  in- 
dustrial community,  a  rural  settlement  in  which  the 
worthy,  diligent  poor  may  have  becoming  abodes,  with 
the  means  and  rewards  of  diligence,  together  with 
the  provisions  of  the  Gospel— will  that  be  dismissed 
as  a  dream? 

"It  can  not  be.  It  is  not  to  be  conceived  of  Chris- 
tians who  are  in  the  midst  of  plenty,  encompassed 
by  a  gracious  and  bountiful  Providence,  having  scarce 
a  wish  within  the  wide  limits  of  their  means  ungrati- 
fied,  and  acknowledging  their  responsibility  for  the 
use  of  their  manifold  gifts  and  opportunities,  that  they 
will  turn  aside  from  a  practical  philanthropy  com- 


WAITING.  405 

mending  itself,  so  entirely  as  this  must,  to  their  minds 
and  hearts:  a  scheme  not  to  increase,  but  to  lessen 
the  numbers  of  dependents  upon  alms-giving;  not  to 
encourage  and  so  multiply  the  indolent  poor,  but  to 
help  them  to  help  themselves;  to  lift  them  up  to  an 
honest  independence;  to  give  them  what  on  any  scale 
of  Christian  justice  is  their  due;  to  save  them  from 
ever  struggling  in  vain;  to  extricate  them  from  ne- 
cessities binding  them  hand  and  foot,  a  prey  to  wretch- 
edness, sorely  tempting  them  to  seek  relief  in  sin;  to 
give  a  brotherly  hand  to  them,  amid  all  their  homeli- 
ness, as  to  brothers  and  sisters  in  Christ.  A  scheme 
not  for  to-day  or  to-morrow,  but  to  make  virtuous 
and  happy  generations  of  those  who  else  would  swell 
the  generations  of  vice  and  misery  in  this  metropolis, 
where  they  are  already  so  frightfully  augmenting." 

The  foregoing  suffices  to  show  the  impulse  and  aim 
of  his  project.  He  scattered  the  pamphlet  far  and 
wide,  and  awaited  the  result.  Some  friends  in  sympa- 
thy with  him,  interested  themselves  in  drawing  his 
attention  to  places  they  deemed  suitable  in  the  way  of 
a  site  for  his  village.  He  visited  such  in  New  Jersey, 
Connecticut,  and  elsewhere,  but  none  of  them  met  his 
quest.  No  direct  effort  was  made  by  means  of  ad- 
vertisement or  real  estate  agents  to  find  what  he 
sought.  He  used  to  say  that  for  none  of  his  undertak- 
ings had  he  prayed  so  much,  from  first  to  last,  as  for 
St.  Johnland,  and  that  no  one  of  them  had  he  offered 
to  God  with  more  singleness  of  aim  or  in  more  confi- 
dent faith.  So  he  waited. 


406  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS   MUHLENBERG. 

He  manifested  always  a  most  devout  recognition  of 
Divine  Providence,  yet  was,  withal,  something  of  a 
Christian  fatalist.  This  would  reveal  itself  in  many  lit- 
tle ways.  If  two  signal  events  of  a  kind  occurred  in 
quick  succession,  he  would  predict  another,  for  "  things 
go  by  threes " ;  and  to  a  friend  suffering  under  an  ex- 
traordinary personal  trial,  he  said:  "Some  great  favor 
is  coming  to  you."  One  day,  towards  the  close  of  the 
year  1865,  he  observed:  "I  am  impressed  that  I  am 
going  to  hear  something  good  for  St.  Johnland,"  and 
within  a  very  little  while  it  followed  that  his  attention 
was  directed  to  the  beautifully  diversified  and  secluded 
domain  which  makes  the  present  settlement. 

The  estate  now  comprises  an  area  of  between  five 
and  six  hundred  acres.  The  original  farm  consisted  of 
four  hundred  and  twenty^five  acres.  Two  thirds  of  this 
was  woodland  and  salt  meadow,  and  the  remainder 
arable  land,  but  in  so  exhausted  a  condition  as  to  be 
useless  for  tillage  without  much  outlay. 

It  chanced  that  all  Dr.  Muhlenberg's  greater  works, 
as  to  locality,  were  begun  in  a  region  of  desolate  waste, 
leaving  room  for  his  Christianity,  literally  as  well  as 
spiritually,  to  make  the  wilderness  "blossom  as  the 
rose."  In  the  present  instance,  the  fields  were  wholly 
bare  for  want  of  fertilization,  the  few  farm  buildings 
were  dilapidated,  fences  there  were  none,  and  the  no- 
blest trees  in  the  grove  were  chalk-marked  for  felling. 
Dr.  Muhlenberg  was  only  just  in  time  to  save  these 
ancient  forest  oaks  and  elms,  the  pride  of  the  do- 
main, from  the  woodman's  axe.  His  observant  eye  at 


THE   PURCHASE.  407 

once  took  in  the  adaptability  of  the  place  for  his  pur- 
pose, and  a  single  glance  from  the  wood-crowned  bluff, 
northward  of  the  estate,  to  the  Sound  washing  up  at  its 
foot,  settled  the  question  definitively.  It  happened  to 
be  high-tide  when  he  first  visited  this  point,  a  material 
circumstance  in  the  picturesqueness  of  the  scene.  The 
view,  always  pleasing,  is  at  this  state  of  the  tide,  and 
under  a  mid-day  sun,  nothing  less  than  entrancing — 
the  blue  waters  flashing  into  beryl,  topaz,  and  ame- 
thyst, like  a  very  sea  of  jewels,  and  then,  in  rich  con- 
trast, leading  the  eye  to  the  sombre  green  of  the  thick 
cedars  that  mantle  the  jutting  slope  from  summit  to 
base. 

The  beauty-loving  mind  and  fatherly  heart  of  Dr. 
Muhlenberg  was  enraptured.  Here  were  all  sorts  of 
pleasures  and  delights  for  his  coming  St.  Johnlanders. 
To  the  west  the  waters  set  in  between  a  long  narrow 
peninsula  and  the  shore,  and  made  a  safe,  sheltered, 
and  commodious  creek  for  bathing,  swimming,  and 
other  water  sports ;  and  what  opportunities  for  healthful 
enjoyments  of  many  kinds  did  not  the  rare  old  grove,  a 
mile  or  more  in  stretch,  offer  for  young  and  old  of  his 
anticipated  colony.  So,  nothing  daunted  by  the  brier- 
grown,  neglected  aspect  of  the  farm,  nor  its  remoteness 
from  any  centre — at  that  time  it  was  ten  miles  distant 
from  the  nearest  railroad  terminus — nor  by  the  task  be- 
fore him  of  raising  funds  for  the  whole  enterprise,  he  at 
once  negotiated  for  the  purchase. 

The  terms  of  this  were  very  easy,  owing  to  the 
wasted  condition  of  the  land  and  the  eagerness  of  the 


408  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

owners  to  sell ;  and  a  number  of  gentlemen  readily  sub- 
scribed in  equal  shares  to  meet  the  cost,  *  and  thus  St. 
Johnland  had,  at  last,  an  existence  upon  terra  firma. 

Co-incident  with  the  acquisition  of  the  estate,  Dr. 
Muhlenberg  entered  into  relations  with  an  intelligent 
Christian  man,  a  superior  proof-reader  and  master  print- 
er, who  had  been  benevolently  attracted  by  the  scheme 
of  a  church  industrial  community,  and  was  ready  for 
an  engagement  to  teach  poor  children  the  art  of  type- 
setting and  to  help  generally  in  the  work.  Thus  was 
providentially  opened  the  way  for  an  important  indus- 
try from  the  beginning,  and  together  with  this  was 
supplied  the  services  of  a  business  agent  and  local  su- 
perintendent for  the  first  three  years  of  the  enterprise. 
In  the  spring  of  1866  the  work  of  renovation  began. 
Some  fields  were  put  under  cultivation,  and  within  a 
few  months  a  suitable  printing-office  was  erected  by  a 
contribution  from  one  of  the  purchasers  of  the  farmf 
which  was  followed  later  by  two  cottages  from  two 
other  friends.  :f 

A  circumstance  occurred  at  St.  Johnland  in  the 
spring  of  1867,  which  was  remembered  later  with  some 
emotion.  Dr.  Muhlenberg  walking  about  the  place  one 

*  These  were  Robert  B.  Minturn,  Adam  Norrie,  William  H.  Aspin- 
wall,  John  H.  Caswell,  Franklin  F.  Randolph,  J.  Fisher  Sheafe,  Percy 
R.  Pyne,  and  John  H.  Swift;  while  for  general  purposes  Mr.  John 
David  Wolfe,  and  Mr.  John  P.  Williams  gave  respectively  five  thou- 
sand dollars  each. 

t  The  late  Mr.  F.  F.  Randolph. 

t  Mr.  John  H.  Caswell,  Mr.  E.  P.  Fabbri. 


TEN    YEARS   MORE,  409 

April  day,  with  the  wife  of  a  brother  clergyman, 
paused  at  the  entrance  of  the  grove  on  the  grassy  knoll, 
now  the  centre  of  the  little  cemetery,  though  then  not 
set  apart  for  such  use.  The  elevation  commands  an  ex- 
cellent view  of  the  settlement,  and  after  silently  sur- 
veying the  then  unoccupied  site,  he  suddenly  ex- 
claimed, "  Ten  years  more,  oh !  my  Father,  if  it  please 
thee  to  set  forward  this  work,  and  then  " — spreading  his 
hands  expressively  towards  the  turf,  and  a  moment 
afterwards  stretching  them  eagerly  upwards,  as  his  eye 
gazed  into  the  heavens.  He  said  no  other  word.  Pre- 
cisely ten  years,  to  a  month,  and  his  mortal  remains 
were  laid  beneath  the  sod  on  the  summit  of  the  knoll 
where  he  was  then  standing. 

His  deep  interest  in  St.  Johnland  gave  him,  at  this 
time,  new  desires,  -if  God  so  willed,  that  he  should  be 
well  and  strong.  On  his  seventieth  birthday,  a  con- 
sumptive girl  in  the  Hospital  made  him  a  book-mark 
on  which  was  worked  the  text,  "As  thy  days  thy 
strength  shall  be."  Throughout  his  life,  he  set  great 
value  on  any  such  simple  gift  from  his  humbler  friends, 
while  perchance  a  costly  personal  present  from  some 
wealthy  parishioner  or  others,  would  be  received  with 
a  sort  of  bewilderment.  He  was  not  ungrateful  for  the 
attention,  but  would  ask  in  a  puzzled  way,  "What  am 
I  to  do  with  this  ? "  commonly  ending  by  transferring 
the  gift  to  his  sister,  Mrs.  Kogers. 

But  poor  young  Ellen's  love-token  delighted  him 
extremely,  and  he  kept  it  in  his  Bible  always.  The 
promise  coming  to  him  in  this  wise,  and  in  connection 


410  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

with  his  anxiety  for  St.  Johnland,  was  especially  sweet 
to  him,  and  so  filled  his  mind  that,  as  common  with 
him,  it  ran  out  in  verse.  The  little  piece  was  published 
in  "Brotherly  Words,"  a  monthly  periodical,  issued 
from  St.  Johnland  at  that  time. 

A  single  stanza  is  subjoined.  He  had  been  asking 
for  strength  for  his  last  work  for  the  Lord,  and 
concludes : 

"  Howe'er,  in  that  thou  shalt  ordain, 
To  live  is  Christ,  to  die  is  gain: 
Only  thy  work,  in  me  fulfil, 
All  mine  I  leave  to  thy  dear  will  ! " 

In  the  year  1867  Dr.  Muhlenberg  celebrated  the 
fiftieth  anniversary  of  his  ordination,  his  "jubilee" 
and  "golden  wedding"  he  called  it.  An  affectionate 
and  intelligent  friend  sent  him,  with  some  warm  con- 
gratulations, the  following  interesting  thoughts  on  the 
occasion : 

"  It  certainly  is  a  long  stretch  of  time  to  look  back 
upon.  You  have  seen  wonderful  changes  in  the  world 
and  in  the  church;  more,  I  think,  in  the  church  than  in 
the  world.  You  were  ordained  just  after  the  Congress 
of  Vienna  had  made  a  map  of  Europe  to  suit  dynasties 
without  the  slightest  regard  to  peoples  or  languages; 
and  you  have  lived  to  see  Europe  tear  in  pieces  the 
Vienna  parchments,  and  to  assert  the  principles  of  Na- 
tionality !  This  is  an  enormous  revolution,  not  yet  com- 
pleted, but  in  the  process  of  triumphant  completion. 

"You  were   ordained  just  after  the  last  war  with 


A    CONNECTING   LINK.  411 

Great  Britain ;  we  had  acquired  distinction,  but  we  were 
feeble  and  few  enough  contrasted  with  our  powers  and 
numbers  of  to-day. 

"You  have  seen  and  felt  the  shock  of  civil  war;  you 
have  felt  the  Eepublic  quiver  in  every  fibre  as  she 
girded  herself  for  a  life  and  death  battle.  You  have 
seen  her  emerge  victorious  and  strong — yet  not  so  fresh, 
so  free,  so  inspired  as  her  heroic  endeavor  would  have 
led  you  to  prophesy. 

"  But  what  have  you  seen  in  the  church  ?  You  have 
seen  what  you  never  could  have  dreamed  of.  You  have 
seen  Protestantism  becoming  weaker  and  Eomanism 
becoming  proportionably  stronger;  you  have  seen  the 
English  Church  convulsed  by  efforts  in  the  Roman  di- 
rection, and  the  German  Church  paralyzed  by  a  learned 
unbelief,  and  the  American  Church  reproducing  feebly 
the  robuster  and  the  more  serious  controversies  of  the 
older  church.  You  have  seen  good  things  done  in  the 
American  Church.  You  have  yourself  done  much  in 
awakening  this  church  to  educational  works  and  to 
works  of  beneficence.  You  have  been  felt  in  a  great 
deal  that  has  been  best  in  this  church — we  thank  God 
for  your  example;  and  I  remember,  moreover,  now  in 
writing,  that  you  are  a  link  connecting  the  church  of 
Bishop  White  with  the  church  whose  bishops  to-day 
are  in  England  upon  the  invitation  of  the  Archbishop 
of  Canterbury.  It  is  a  long,  long  journey.  The  old 
things  have  passed  away — all  things  have  become  new. 
Old  theologies,  old  modes  of  conducting  public  wor- 
ship, old  quarrels  between  Calvinist  and  Arminian  are 


412  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

hushed.  Men  are  divided  upon  new  issues;  they  are 
interested  in  new  themes.  They  read  the  Bible  differ- 
ently; they  interpret  it  more  thoroughly.  We  have 
more  scholarship,  more  philanthropy.  We  have  parted 
with  an  old  simplicity;  we  are  in  the  garish  light  when 
fashion  will  hold  its  revels  at  high  noon. 

"  These  things  must  come  to  your  mind  often  and  of- 
ten, my  beloved  friend,  and  you  wonder  whither  we  are 
all  drifting.  But  St.  Luke's  Hospital  will  long  stand, 
I  hope  and  believe,  an  evidence  of  the  Christian  charity 
and  forethought  of  one  man  at  least,  whose  name  will 
be  held  long  in  remembrance.  Our  thoughts  and  feel- 
ings may  drift  but  a  thing  done,  stands " 

His  continued  health  and  activity  often  induced  in 
those  around  him  a  forgetfulness  of  his  age.  "It  is 
difficult,"  wrote  one,  a  year  or  two  later,  "to  realize 
that  Dr.  Muhlenberg  has  been  in  harness  so  long. 
Dining  with  him,  in  company  with  a  brother  clergy- 
man (1871),  the  conversation  turned  on  the  action  of 
the  House  of  Bishops  just  fifty  years  before,  and  his 
guest  expressed  a  regret  that  the  secretary  of  that 
body  was  not  living  to  enlighten  the  public  on  a  point 
connected  with  its  action,  concerning  which,  opinion 
was  divided.  'Why,'  Dr.  M said,  'I  was  secre- 
tary to  the  House  of  Bishops  then.'"  "Dr.  Muhlen- 
berg," the  writer  concludes,  "was  a  venerable  repre- 
sentative of  what  we  might  call  a  primeval  age, — a 
living  epitome  of  our  church's  history." 

It  could  not  be  expected  that  a  work  so  out  of  sight, 
so  multiform,  and  to  most,  so  incomprehensible,  as  St. 


HIS   LAST  PRIVATE    MEANS.  413 

Jolinland,  should  command  any  thing  like  the  remark- 
able pecuniary  support  recorded  of  the  initiation  of 
St.  Luke's  Hospital.  A  few  generous  personal  friends, 
as  we  have  seen,  met  the  cost  of  the  land,  and  cheered 
the  Founder  with  gifts  of  different  amounts,  which  he 
expended  in  extensive  repairs  and  improvements.  The 
cost  of  maintaining  the  place,  such  as  provisions,  sal- 
aries, and  other  incidental  expenses,  he  assumed  per- 
sonally. Some  private  means  of  his  own  remained 
at  this  time,  inuring  to  him  through  his  family,  and 
only  unexpended,  probably,  because  for  a  long  while 
so  placed  as  to  be,  in  their  bulk,  unavailable.  The  re- 
quirements of  St.  Jolinland  now  constrained  their 
being  put  at  his  own  disposal,  and  he  spent  them,  to 
the  last  dollar,  on  that  work.  He  preferred  that  while 
the  undertaking  was  esteemed  so  much  of  an  exper- 
iment, whatever  loss  there  might  be,  should  be  his 
own.  The  farm,  with  the  improvements  constantly 
in  progress,  was  soon  worth  much  more  than  its  first 
cost,  and  so  in  the  event  of  failure  the  original  con- 
tributors could  easily  be  reimbursed,  and  no  one  the 
worse  pecuniarily  for  the  venture. 

Dr.  Muhlenberg  could  not  be  called  "a  business 
man,"  but  his  high  principles  and  perfect  integrity 
were  coupled  with  so  fine  a  tact  and  wise  circumspec- 
tion in  monetary  matters,  that,  costly  as  were  his  un- 
dertakings, their  finance  always  did  him  credit. 

He  designed  that  his  labors  for  St.  Luke's  Hospital 
should  always  be  free  from  all  pecuniary  considera- 
tions, and  for  the  first  ten  years  they  were  so.  His 


414  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS   MUHLENBERG.    . 

only  sister,  like  his  good  mother  before  her,  provided 
his  clothing;  some  Christian  friend  would  now  and 
again  send  a  "  hundred  dollars  for  the  Pastor's  private 
use ; "  he  had  his  living  at .  St.  Luke's  without  cost ; 
"What  more  did  a  prophet  of  the  Lord  require  as  to 
this  world's  goods  ?  "  But  towards  autumn  of  the  year 
1868,  St.  Johnland  funds  were  running  low,  and  his 
own  bank  was  exhausted. 

By  this  time  a  House  for  crippled  children,  "The 
Spencer  and  Wolfe  Home,"  built  by  the  ladies  whose 
name  it  bears,  was  in  operation,  and  its  first  inmates 
were  a  band  of  little  helpless  convalescents  from  St. 
Luke's  Hospital.  Dr.  Muhlenberg  saw  here  room  for  a 
claim  of  the  younger  upon  the  older  of  the  affiliated 
institutions,  and  proposed  that  an  annual  subsidy  of 
two  or  three  thousand  dollars  should  be  paid  by  St. 
Luke's  for  the  maintenance  of  such  poor  little  children 
at  St.  Johnland.  The  "  powers  that  be  "  in  the  Hospi- 
tal Board  thought  an  appropriation  on  such  grounds 
was  not  within  their  prerogative,  but  it  would  be  en- 
tirely legitimate  for  Dr.  Muhlenberg  to  draw  three 
thousand  a  year  as  his  salary,  which,  of  course,  he 
could  expend  as  he  pleased.  The  word  "salary"  grated 
upon  the  saint's  ears  in  connection  with  his  conse- 
crated service,  but  he  yielded.  St.  Johnland  had  to 
be  supported,  and  after  all,  what  did  the  name  of  the 
thing  matter?  And  so  it  went  for  the  remainder  of 
his  life. 

Early  in  the  year  1867  he  resorted  to  the  means  he 
had  used  in  the  Church  of  the  Holy  Communion  for 


ESSENTIAL    TO    ST.   LUKE* S.  415 

making  his  Church.  Village  better  understood.  His 
twelve  numbers  of  Brotherly  Words,  published  monthly, 
did  for  St.  Johnland  similar  service  to  that  rendered  by 
the  Evangelical  Catholic  to  the  Church,  Hospital,  and 
Sisterhood,  and,  at  the  same  time,  enforced  many  and 
beautiful  Christian  lessons  on  a  diversity  of  subjects 
consonant  with  its  name.  Its  motto,  was  the  great  St. 
Johnland  text — "Tins  is  His  COMMANDMENT,  THAT  YE  BE- 
LIEVE ON  THE  NAME  OF  His  SON  JESUS  CHRIST,  AND  LOVE 

ONE    ANOTHER   AS    HE    GAVE    US    COMMANDMENT." 

During  Dr.  Muhlenberg's  life  the  two  works  were 
very  intimately  connected,  and  St.  Johnland  must  al- 
ways be  essential  to  St.  Luke's  for  sheltering  and  edu- 
cating the  discharged  little  convalescents  of  its  ortho- 
pedic department,  who,  too  often,  have  no  home  suitable 
to  their  impaired  physical  condition. 

The  opening  of  the  Home  for  crippled  and  destitute 
children  brought  new  life  and  interest  to  the  undertak- 
ing, and  the  year  1868  closed  with  encouraging  fore- 
shadowings  of  yet  more  substantial  advance.  The 
Founder's  birthday,  from  the  beginning,  has  been  ob- 
served in  St.  Johnland  as  a  fete  or  "  gaudy  day,"  and 
in  the  year  of  which  we  are  speaking,  that  day  was  a 
delightful  occasion.  Several  gentlemen,  friends  of  Dr. 
Muhlenberg's,  were  invited  by  the  St.  Johnlanders, 
through  their  representative,  to  come  and  help  make 
merry  with  them;  arid  a  subsequent  letter  from  one 
of  these  guests,  as  printed  in  a  contemporary  periodical, 
will  show  something  of  the  genius  of  the  place,  as  well 
as  of  the  manner  of  celebrating  its  high  anniversary. 


416  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

After  an  interesting  description  of  the  territory,  and 
some  exposition  of  the  design  of  the  enterprise  the 
writer  says: 

"  The  morning  after  our  arrival  was  a  fete  day  in  St. 
Johnland.  It  was  the  birthday  of  its  Founder  and  had 
been  looked  forward  to  with  eagerness.  While  seated 
at  the  breakfast  table,  we  heard  a  little  stir  outside  the 
windows,  and  then  a  chorus  of  sweet  voices  breaking 
out  into  song.  We  looked  up  in  surprise,  and  found  a 
group  of  dear  children,  with  others,  including,  I  believe, 
every  resident  of  the  place,  in  an  excited  cluster,  chant- 
ing an  address  of  congratulation  to  their  venerable 
Pastor,  whose  long  life  began  that  day  its  seventy-third 
year  of  usefulness.  I  can  not  picture  this  graceful  and 
touching  scene,  followed  by  the  presentation  of  a  birth- 
day gift  and  of  the  birthday  song  handsomely  printed 
on  card-board;  the  words,  the  music,  and  the  printing 
being  all  of  St.  Johnland  origin.  The  children  are 
accustomed  to  commit  to  memory  a  daily  text  of  Scrip- 
ture, which  they  call  the  '  word  for  the  day.'  For  this 
day  their  selection  was,  l  The  hoary  head  is  a  crown  of 
glory,  if  it  be  found  in  the  way  of  righteousness.'  Not 
a  little  one  there  but  made  a  personal  application  of  the 
text  to  the  'hallowed  crown  of  silver  hairs,'  to  which 
they  looked  up  with  such  filial  and  reverent  love. 

"  Behind  the  buildings,  which  front  toward  the  south, 
rises  a  range  of  hills,  covered  with  oak  and  cedar  for- 
ests, sheltering  this  'hap'py  valley'  from  the  intrusion  of 
northern  winds.  On  the  farther  side,  the  ridge  breaks 
down  abruptly  to  the  waters  of  the  Sound,  affording 


A    SKETCH.  417 

from  its  edge  a  beautiful  view  of  blue  waters,  dotted 
with  the  sails  of  commerce,  the  receding  bays  and 
capes  of  Long  Island,  and  the  opposite  shores  of  Con- 
necticut, some  fifteen  miles  distant.  Inviting  paths 
meander  along  this  shady  and  undulating  ridge.  A 
rounded  summit,  overlooking  all  the  rest,  has  been 
christened  'Mount  St.  John.' 

"In  the  grove,  near  Mount  St.  John,  the  children 
enjoyed  a  pleasant  little  picnic,  with  swings  and  romp- 
ing games,  and  an  abundant  feast,  including  a  veritable 
clam-bake  without  the  savor  of  politics.  The  occasion 
was  to  all  a  source  of  innocent  hilarity,  and  called  to- 
gether the  whole  tribe  of  St.  Johnland,  from  its  silver 
crowned  patriarch  to  its  youngest  citizen  born  upon 
the  soil  but  a  few  months  since. 

"A  painter  should  have  sketched  the  group,  a  poet 
would  have  done  it  better  justice.  My  peri  rests  here. 
"We  do  not  live  in  patriarchal  days.  The  Arcadia  of 
dreamland  is  undiscovered  yet.  But  if  Peace  has  her 
dwelling  anywhere  upon  this  footstool,  the  St.  John- 
landers  are  resting  under  the  shadow  of  her  wings. 

"  May  the  choicest  blessing  descend  upon  this  heav- 
enly charity,  and  twice  bless  their  unbought,  self-deny- 
ing toil. 

"  'From  whom  sucli  deeds  of  week-day  holiness 
Fall  noiseless  as  the  snow.'  " 

There  was  just  one  little  shadow  of  a  cloud  over  the 
brightness  of  that  day.  The  Pastor's  humility  shrank 
from  the  St.  John  land-made  birthday  song.  Somewhat 


418  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

too  laudatory  lie  thought  it.  A  slight  air  of  depression 
passed  over  his  strong  yet  gentle  face,  as  the  people, 
con  amore  carolled  it  forth,  though  he  tried  to  be  pleased 
with  every  thing.  He  was  not  at  all  prepared  for  such 
an  ovation.  Perhaps,  had  he  been  quite  alone  with 
his  St.  Johnlanders — his  own  children — it  might  have 
seemed  different,  but  in  the  presence  of  his  city  guests 
his  natural  shyness  winced  under  the  loving  honor 
done  him.  And  before  Christmas  of  that  year  came 
round,  he  had  taken  the  refrain  of  the  little  birthday 
lyric  and  wedded  to  it  a  joyous  choral,  in  honor  of  the 
Birthday  of  birthdays,  composing  a  suitable  praiseful 
tune  to  accompany  this.  There  was  something  holily 
ingenious  in  thus  converting  the  tribute  to  himself  on 
his  own  birthday  altogether  into  a  hymn  of  adoration 
at  the  Nativity  of  his  Lord  and  Master. 

The  following   extract   will   serve   to    illustrate    the 
incident : 

"  Glorious  Birthday ! 

Glorious  Birthday ! 
Promised  since  the  world  began; 

With  the  dawning, 

Of  this  morning, 
Born  the  Lord  the  Son  of  Man. 

"  Glorious  Birthday ! 

Angel  hosts  say, 
Highest  praise  their  notes  employ; 

Glory  singing, 

Good-will  bringing, 
Coming  down  to  wish  us  joy. 


"GLORIOUS   BIRTHDAY."  419 

"  Glorious  Birthday ! 

Doth  the  Church  say, 
In  the  mystery  triumphing; 

Mary  keepeth, 

While  He  sleepeth, 
Her  own  Babe,  and  Heaven's  own  King."  * 

In  the  fall  of  the  year  1869,  the  foundations  were  suc- 
cessively laid  of  the  "Boys'  House,  or  Johnny's  Memor- 
ial," "St.  John's  Inn,  or  the  Old  Man's  Home,"  and  the 
"Church  of  the  Testimony  of  Jesus." 

The  first  of  these  was  built  by  Dr.  Muhlenjberg's 
niece,  in  memory  of  her  eldest  son,  a  lovely  boy,  taken 
away  very  unexpectedly  in  his  tenth  year.f  Next  came 
"  St.  John's  Inn,  or  the  Old  Man's  Home " — the  most 
costly  and  extensive  structure  on  the  place ;  consisting 
in  fact  of  three  large  houses  connected  by  enclosed  pas- 
sages, and  forming  a  handsome  front  of  a  hundred  and 
seventy-five  feet.  This  building  was  erected  by  the 
munificence  of  Mr.  John  David  Wolfe. 

Dr.  Muhlenberg — himself  an  old  man  —  had  had 
greatly  at  heart  the  establishment  of  an  Old  Man's 
Home  for  the  entertainment  of  a  certain  number  of 
wayworn  old  pilgrims,  through  the  last  days  and  years 

*  The  little  home  song  annihilated  by  the  above  ran  thus: 
"Happy  Birthday! 
Happy  Birthday ! 
King  it  out  with  sweet  acclaim; 
Blessings  breathing, 
Honors  wreathing 
For  the  well-beloved  name." 
f  John  Kogers  Chisolm. 
27 


420  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

of  their  earthly  tarrying,  and  the  laying  of  the  corner- 
stone of  this  building  was  to  him  no  insignificant  occa- 
sion. His  birthday  was  by  request  appointed  for  the 
purpose.  He  arrived  at  noon  of  that  day  from  the 
city,  with  a  number  of  chosen  friends,  and  found  all 
the  houses  in  holiday  trim,  decked  with  wreaths  and 
flowers,  and  the  whole  place  astir  with  pleased  expec- 
tation. After  the  usual  sports,  with  picnic  and  clam- 
bake in  the  grove,  had  been  fully  enjoyed  by  the  people 
of  the  settlement,  towards  sunset  came  the  event  of  the 
day — purposely  left  till  that  hour,  as  symbolizing  the 
work,  and  the  advancing  years  both  of  the  Father  of 
St.  Johnland,  and  of  his  friend  Mr.  Wolfe.  The  sur- 
roundings were  in  full  harmony  with  the  occasion. 
Nothing  broke  the  repose  of  the  service  but  the  wood- 
land hum  of  the  insects.  The  gathered  company,  in 
number  about  a  hundred  and  thirty,  an^  consisting  of 
young  and  old,  lame  children  and  sturdy  workmen, 
country  neighbors,  black  and  white,  farm  hands  and 
gentry,  clergymen  and  laymen,  stood  reverently  and 
bare-headed  around  the  excavated  area  prepared  for  the 
middle  building,  standing  within  which  was  the  cen- 
tral figure  of  the  picture,  the  venerable  Father  and  Pas- 
tor, who,  after  performing  the  simple  ceremony,  led 
them  in  his  own  way,  from  what  they  were  doing  here, 
to  "the  house  not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the  heav- 
ens." The  little  crippled  children  chanted,  "  The  Lord 
is  my  Shepherd,"  and  the  whole  congregation  in  chorus 
the  "  Gloria  in  Excelsis,"  while  the  western  sky,  grow- 
ing momently  richer  in  beauty,  illumined  the  scene, 


THE    CHURCH  OF   THE    TESTIMONY.  421 

not  with  the  gorgeous  splendor  of  a  midsummer  sunset, 
but  with  that  soft,  crystalline  light,  flecked  with  bril- 
liant bars  of  azure  and  gold,  not  unfrequent  on  cool 
autumnal  evenings.  It  was  a  sweet  hallowed  time. 
'And  before  night  closed  in,  the  event  of  the  day  led  in- 
directly to  the  more  precious  gift  of  a  Village  Church. 
St.  Johnland  as  yet  had  no  appropriate  sanctuary, 
though  it  was  never  without  an  officiating  minister. 
The  services  were  held  in  a  room  of  one  of  the  houses, 
too  small  for  the  purpose,  and  a  church  proper  was  very 
earnestly  desired  by  the  people  at  large. 

Mr.  Adam  Norrie,  immediately  on  Mr.  Wolfe's  assum- 
ing the  entire  cost  of  St.  John's  Inn,  undertook  himself, 
in  a  very  generous  manner,  the  erection  of  the  Church, 
the  corner-stone  of  which  was  laid  with  appropriate  ser- 
vices the  month  following  that  of  the  Old  Man's  Home. 

St.  Johnland,  while  an  organization  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church,  is  not  a  diocesan  institution;  a  dis- 
tinction existing  in  numerous  benevolent  and  edu- 
cational societies  amongst  us.  But  Dr.  Muhlenberg 
would  not  begin  his  Church  of  the  Testimony  without 
courteously  communicating  his  intention  to  the  bish- 
op, territorially  the  nearest,  who  met  him  with  equal 
kindness  and  courtesy  in  the  matter.  Within  the  cor- 
ner-stone was  deposited  a  declaration  of  the  Evangeli- 
cal Catholic  principles  upon  which  the  entire  work  is 
founded,  and  a  copy  of  the  same  was  subsequently  put 
in  print  as  a  preface  to  the  St.  Johnland  Directory. 

"The  Church  of  the  Testimony  of  Jesus"  Dr.  Muhl- 
enberg named  his  village  sanctuary.  Mr.  Nome's  gift 


422  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

included  the  furniture  of  the  Church,  and  his  daughter 
enriched  the  latter  by  a  beautiful  silver  communion 
service  and  a  church  bell  for  the  open  belfry. 

Mr.  Adam  Norrie  was,  next  to  Mr.  Minturn,  Dr. 
Muhlenberg's  oldest  and  dearest  friend  in  St.  Luke's 
Hospital,  his  long  service  of  which,  as  Treasurer,  dates 
back  to  the  earliest  days  of  the  Institution.  There 
remain  some  lines  written  in  1871,  and  inscribed  "To 
A.  N.  on  his  birthday,  from  W.  A,  M."  which  indicate 
gracefully  the  friendship  existing  between  these  two, 
as  well  as  the  continued  facility  of  Dr.  Muhlenberg's 
muse : 

"My  fellow  traveller  on  life's  way, 

So  near  our  footsteps  are — 
'Twere  strange  if  on  thy  natal  day 
My  heart  could  be  afar. 

"Thy  seventy  years  and  six  now  fled, 

With  mind  and  body  strong— 
Thy  green  old  age  unwithered, 
May  the  good  Lord  prolong. 

"  Prolong— that  it  be  thine  to  know 

Long  joy  in  deeds  of  love: 
A  treasurer  for  the  poor  below 
And  for  thyself  above. 

"True  to  thy  trust,  dear  friend,  live  on, 

With  grace  thy  wealth  to  crown: 
Grace  still  increasing,  till  thy  sun 
Undimmed  by  cloud  go  down. 


HIS   FRIEND'S   BIRTHDAY.  423 

"One  favor  yet,  and  that  to  pray 

I've  chiefly  spun  my  rhyme: 
Let  genius  thy  loved  form  portray 
In  art  defying  time. 

"For  this  thy  patience  we  invoke, 

With  next  to  children's  zeal, 
Thy  friends,  St.  Luke's,  St.  Johnland  folk, 
All  join  in  warm  appeal." 

The  purpose  in  writing  the  foregoing,  was  to  induce 
his  friend  to  sit  to  the  artist  Huntingdon  for  his  por- 
trait; an  end  which  the  bright  little  poem  achieved. 


CHAPTER   XXIV. 

1869-1872. 

Incorporation  of  St.  Johnland. — Diversified  Objects  of  the  Society.— Ca- 
pabilities of  the  Place. — Not  ready  for  Cottages  at  first. — Family  Life 
fostered  in  another  Form. — St.  Johnland  Children. — Evangelical  Broth- 
erhood.— Church  Services. — "Directory  for  the  Use  of  the  Book  of 
Common  Prayer." — Illustration  from  Supplement. — Dedication  of  the 
Church. — St.  John's  Inn  has  its  House-warming. — A  Cottage  Tenantry. 
— Who  and  What  they  are  to  be. — Mistakes  Corrected. — Educational 
as  to  Family  Life.— The  Great  St.  Johnland  Text. — An  Original  Char- 
ity.—Transfer  of  Property  to  Trustees.— Mr.  John  D.  Wolfe's  Benefac- 
tions.— Anecdotes. — Influence  of  Dr.  Muhlenberg  in  enlarged  Gifts  of 
Benevolence. 

ST.  JOHNLAND  did  not  become  an  Incorporation  in  law, 
until  the  year  1870.  Among  its  Trustees  were  a  num- 
ber of  the  contributors  to  the  original  purchase  of  the 
farm,  but  some  had  before  this  passed  hence.* 

An  abstract  of  the  Act  of  Incorporation  states  the 
objects  of  the  organization  as  follows: 

"First:  To  provide  cheap  and  comfortable  homes, 
together  with  the  means  of  social  and  moral  improve- 
ment, for  deserving  families  from  among  the  working 
classes,  particularly  of  the  city  of  New  York,  and  such 
as  can  carry  on  their  work  at  St.  Johnland;  but  this 

*  Its  first  officers  were,  John  David  Wolfe,  President;  Adam  Nor- 
rie,  Vice  President;  Howard  Potter,  Treasurer;  and  Win.  Alex.  Smith, 
Secretary. 


OBJECTS   OF  ST.    JOHNLAND.  425 

provision  shall  never  be  used  for  pecuniary  emolument, 
either  to  the  Society  or  to  any  of  the  Agents  in  its 
employ.  Second:  To  maintain  a  home  for  aged  men 
in  destitute  circumstances,  especially  Communicants, 
who  are  deemed  entitled  to  it  by  the  churches  to 
which  they  belong;  to  care  for  friendless  children  and 
youth,  and  especially  cripples,  by  giving  them  home, 
schooling,  Christian  training,  and  some  trade  or  occu- 
pation by  which  they  can  earn  their  future  livelihood ; 
and  generally  to  do  such  other  Christian  offices  as 
shall  from  time  to  time  be  required,  and  are  practi- 
cable by  the  Society,  consistently  with  its  benevolent 
designs.  Third:  To  assist  indigent  boys  and  young 
men  who  desire  literary  education,  with  a  view  to 
the  Gospel  Ministry,  by  affording  them  the  oppor- 
tunity for  such  education,  and,  at  the  same  time, 
means  of  self-support  by  some  useful  employment. 
An  Evangelical  School,  or  College,  chiefly  for  training 
for  the  Ministry,  would  come  within  the  scope  of  the 
Society.  Lastly,  and  as  embracing  its  whole,  to  give 
form  and  practical  application  to  the  principles  of 
Brotherhood  in  Christ,  in  an  organized  congregation  or 
parish,  constituted  by  settled  residents  of  St.  Johnland." 
The  territory,  in  its  diversified  range  of  hill  and  dale, 
of  wood  and  water,  in  the  tilth  of  its  broad  acres,  in  its 
fine  garden  land,  and  its  general  eligibility  for  a  variety 
of  industries,  is  a  place  of  unlimited  capabilities.  The 
measure  of  its  possible  usefulness  can  not  be  estimated, 
granting  reasonable  supplies  of  material  aid  for  its 
development.  Dr.  Muhlenberg's  wise  and  prophetic 


426  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

mind  apprehended  all  this,  and  his  faith  in  the  princi- 
ples of  Evangelical  Brotherhood,  upon  which  the  whole 
is  founded,  gave  him  a  confident  hope  as  to  the  future 
of  the  work,  even  though  his- eye  should  see  little  more 
than  the  first  feeble  steps  of  its  infancy. 

Enthusiastic,  eager  of  heart,  in  all  that  he  undertook, 
there  was,  at  the  same  time,  a  grand  underlaying  power 
of  patient  waiting,  which  kept  out  of  the  inception  of 
all  his  enterprises  every  least  approach  to  the  rushing 
methods  of  this  nineteenth  century.  "Festina  lente" 
was  a  favorite  maxim,  and  well  carried  out  in  his  differ- 
ent foundations.  Not  that  with  regard  to  any  one  of 
these  he,  of  choice,  waited  so  long  for  the  develop- 
ment of  his  ideal  in  the  actual,  but  he  was  wise  and 
prudent  as  to  opportunities,  and,  moreover,  ruled  him- 
self always  by  the  indication  of  God's  will  in  the  posi- 
tion of  affairs  and  the  circumstances  of  the  time. 

It  would  have  been  a  great  joy  to  him  to  see  while 
yet  he  lived,  a  colony  of  some  fifty  happy  cottage 
homes,  thriving  under  the  benefits  provided  for  them, 
in  the  peaceful,  wholesome,  moral  and  religious  in- 
fluences of  his  St.  Johnland.  And  a  first  thought  in 
buying  the  farm  was  to  press  for  the  erection  of  these 
cottages.  Three  were  put  up  and  occupied,  but  it  soon 
became  apparent  that  progress  of  another  kind  must 
precede  a  thorough  readiness  for  carrying  out  this 
fundamental  idea.  He  had  thought  of  homes  for  the 
aged,  for  crippled  children,  for  destitute  boys  and  girls, 
etc.,  as  humane  accessories  to  the  leading  object  of  the 
enterprise,  which  inherently  they  are,  but  in  God's 


NOT  A    REFORMATORY.  427 

Providence  they  were  to  come  about  first,  as  to  the 
order  of  time. 

It  is  easily  seen  now  that  it  could  not  have  been 
otherwise.  When  the  place  was  bought,  there  were 
neither  houses,  church,  school  buildings,  railroad  prox- 
imity, a  convenient  provision  mart,  nor  post  office — 
agencies  indispensable  to  a  Christian  industrial  settle- 
ment, deriving  its  employment  mainly  from  the  city. 
But  this  notwithstanding,  the  place  was  quickly  turned 
to  good  account. 

In  the  readiness  of  generous  friends  to  erect  suitable 
houses  for  the  purpose,  and  in  the  natural  advantages 
of  the  place,  there  has  been,  almost  from  the  beginning, 
much  opportunity  for  benefiting  the  young  of  the 
families  contemplated  in  Dr.  Muhlenberg's  idea.  The 
large  households  of  children  successively  cared  for  at 
St.  Johnland,  not  including  the  youthful  convalescents 
from  St.  Luke's,  have  been  for  the  most  part  neither 
stray  waifs,  nor  little  street  Arabs,  nor  .juvenile  repro- 
bates needing  the  good  offices  of  a  reformatory,  but  the 
orphans  or  half  orphans  of  decent  poor  parents,  valu- 
ing nothing  so  much  as  the  moral  and  physical  well- 
being  of  their  little  ones. 

This  Church  Village  was  created  to  elevate  family 
life  among  the  poor,  and  much  care  is  taken  to  this 
end.  The  children  are  not  huddled  together  in  one 
vast  building,  like  so  many  pieces  of  a  great  machine, 
knowing  nothing,  each  one,  beyond  its  own  groove  or 
niche.  They  are  divided,  according  to  circumstances, 
into  households  numbering  from  thirty  to  forty  each. 


428  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

Their  houses  are  not  alike,  and  the  children  are  not 
dressed  alike,  nor  in  any  other  manner  ground  into 
an  artificial  uniformity  by  unnecessary  routine  or  cold 
repression.  They  have  room  for  spontaneity. 

"  Your  children  all  look  as  though  they  had  mothers," 
said  an  intelligent  visitor  to  the  place.  The  work  is 
one  of  manifold  benevolence,  yet  it  is  no  mere  com- 
bination of  institutions,  but  already,  in  its  measure,  a 
living  exemplification  of  that  Gospel  Brotherhood  which 
its  Founder  has  so  yearned  to  see  permeating  the 
church.  "Brotherhood  in  Christ"  was  the  foundation 
and  corner-stone  of  the  ideal,  and  Brotherhood  in 
Christ  is,  it  may  be  affirmed,  the  keynote  of  the  daily 
life  of  the  actual  St.  Johnland. 

All  the  residents,  whatever  their  previous  religious 
associations,  unite  cordially  in  the  worship  of  the 
Church  of  the  Testimony;  and  thus  not  a  few,  older 
and  younger,  have  been  led  naturally  into  "the  green 
pastures  and  still  waters  "  of  the  old  historic  church, 
hitherto  unknown  to  them,  and  have  found  it  all  so 
sweet  and  wholesome,  as  not  to  be  content  ever  again 
to  do  without  the  beautiful  ritual,  its  responsive  Lit- 
urgy, its  animating  Te  Deums  and  Glorias,  and  the 
comprehensive  teachings  of  the  Church  Year.  It  has 
always  been  thus  wherever  Dr.  Muhlenberg's  min- 
istry was  exercised.  The  reserved  rights  and  priv- 
ileges of  this  Church  of  the  Testimony,  are  "  the 
liberty  of  conscience,"  "the  liberty  of  prayer,"  and 
the  liberty  of  "ministerial  fellowship."  When  he  pre- 
pared his  "Directory  for  the  Use  of  the  Book  of 


YET    TO   BE    APPRECIATED.  429 

Common  Prayer,"  he  was  too  far  on  in  years  to 
do  what  he  otherwise  might  have  done  for  its  ac- 
ceptableness,  by  a  personal  illustration  of  its  value. 
It  is  one  of  his  works  yet  to  be  appreciated.  Leaving 
the  Prayer  Book  reverently  untouched  by  so  much  as  a 
"jot  or  tittle,"  that  they  who  find  all  that  they  want  in 
its  venerable  forms  may  not  be  hurt  by  the,  to  them, 
sacrilegiousness  of  any  change,  he  shows,  in  this  Direc- 
tory, how,  by  some  such  authorized  Supplement  to  the 
Book,  a  widely  felt  need  of  more  flexibility  of  the  ser- 
vice might  be  allowed,  without  the  least  confusion  or 
disarrangement  of  the  stately  order  of  the  worship. 
This  is  secured  by  appointing  the  places  in  the  service, 
at  which  the  liberty  of  free  prayer,  or  the  choice  of  an 
alternative  in  a  prescribed  form,  may  be  used. 

"The  Prayer  Book,"  he  writes,  "is  not  undervalued 
as  to  its  treasures  in  asserting  its  wants.  The  latter 
can  not  be  denied.  Witness  the  meagre  amount  of 
New  Testament  prayer  and  praise  for  the  round  of 
festivals  and  fasts;  the  absence  of  any  forms  suited 
to  the  peculiar  circumstances  of  our  own  church  and 
country,  and  to  the  times  we  live  in;  or  for  our  be- 
nevolent and  educational  institutions.  There  are  no 
prayers  for  the  increase  of  ministers,  for  missions  or 
missionaries;  for  the  Christian  teaching  of  the  young; 
for  sponsors  on  the  occasion  of  baptism;  for  persons 
setting  out  on  long  journeys  by  land,  quite  as  perilous 
as  voyages  by  sea;  for  the  sick  desiring  the  prayers 
of  the  church,  when  there  is  no  prospect  of  or  desire 
for  recovery;  for  the  bereaved  at  funerals;  and  many 


430  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

other  occasions  for  which  there  might  as  well  be  provi- 
sion, as  for  those  few  for  which  we  already  have  in  the 
'occasional  prayers' — not  to  speak  of  the  endless  sub- 
jects for  which  there  can  be  no  liturgical  prescriptions, 
and  which  necessitate  the  exercise  of  free  prayer.  Per- 
haps it  is  only  in  such  prayer  that  due  supplication 
can  be  made  for  that  which  we  are  most  enjoined  to 
pray  for,  but  which  has  so  little  place,  beside  a  passing 
versicle,  in  the  ordinary  offices  of  the  church — the 
influence  and  manifold  gifts  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 

"With  respect  to  the  following  forms,  let  it  be  re- 
membered that  they  are  meant  for  comparatively  pri- 
vate use,  and  not  proposed  as  worthy  additions  to  the 
Liturgy,  Imperfect  as  they  are,  they  may  yet  serve 
as  exemplifications  of  what  a  Supplement  to  the  Prayer 
Book  might  become,  if  to  furnish  it  with  materials 
were  made  an  object  by  the  church,  or  of  some  of 
her  members  acting  together  for  the  purpose.  In 
that  event,  the  effect  would  be  similar  to  what  has 
happened  in  regard  to  our  Hymnody.  Contributions 
would  be  forthcoming,  when  once  combined  piety  and 
genius  were  encouraged  to  make  such  offerings  for 
the  sanctuary;  while,  from  sources  new  and  old,  treas- 
ures would  be  gathered  worthy  of  being  incorporated 
with  the  Liturgy ;  gems  wpuld  be  found,  fit  for  setting 
in  its  '  wrought  gold.' "  The  subjoined,  provided  to  be 
added  to  the  usual  church  service  on  the  Festival  of  the 
Nativity,  will  serve  to  illustrate  what  has  been  quoted 
above,  and  may  incidentally  show  how  near  he  came 
in  chaste  and  reverent  utterance  to  the  ancient  formulas : 


AN  ILLUSTRATION.  431 

"CHRISTMAS    LAUDS    AND   PRAYER. 

"All  glory  be  to  thee,  O  God,  for  that  thou  didst  so  love  the  world 
as  to  give  thine  only-begotten  Son,  that  whosoever  believeth  in  him 
should  not  perish,  but  have  everlasting  life.  All  praise  and  thanks 
be  unto  thee  for  this  thine  unspeakable  gift.  All  blessing  and  honor, 
that  unto  us  is  born,  as  on  this  day,  a  Saviour  which  is  Christ  the 
Lord.  Glory  to  thee  in  the  highest.  To  thee  we  lift  up  anew  our 
praises,  with  all  the  assemblies  of  thy  saints,  now  rejoicing  again  in 
this  manifestation  of  thy  love.  As,  when  thou  didst  bring  thy  first- 
begotten  into  the  world,  thou  gavest  thine  angels  to  worship  him, 
give  unto  us,  to  whom  he  has  joined  himself  nearer  than  to  the 
angels,  to  worship  him  with  all  the  homage  of  our  souls,  and,  to- 
gether with  all  things  in  heaven  and  things  on  earth,  to  confess  that 
he  is  Lord,  to  the  glory  of  thee,  the  Father." 

"All  glory  be  unto  thee,  thou  eternal  Son,  for  the  marvellous  mys- 
tery of  thine  Incarnation,  wherein  thou  didst  lay  aside  thy  majesty  on 
high,  and  clothe  thyself  with  humanity,  for  us  men  and  our  salvation. 
The  brightness  of  the  Father's  glory  and  the  express  image  of  his 
person,  we  adore  thee  that  thou  didst  stoop  to  sojourn  in  our  world, 
and  acquaint  thyself  with  its  woes,  that  thou  might  raise  us  to  thy 
heavenly  kingdom.  Fulfil  in  us,  we  beseech  thee,  all  the  purposes 
of  thine  ineffable  humiliation.  Emmanuel,  God  with  us,  draw  us 
unto  thee  in  the  new  life  which  is  begotten  of  thyself.  Thou  who 
wast  born  of  a  woman,  deign,  by  thy  indwelling  in  us,  to  be  born  in 
our  hearts,  and  to  reign  there  until  every  thought  be  brought  into 
captivity  to  thy  will.  Purify  us,  that,  following  thee  in  thy  humility 
and  thy  charity,  we  may  bear  thine  image,  and  be  ready  for  thy  second 
coming,  in  the  glory  of  the  Father,  with  all  the  holy  angels. 

"O  Saviour  of  sinners,  give  us  to  know  the  fulness  of  thy  salvation, 
in  deliverance  from  the  power  of  sin  now  in  this  time  of  our  present 
life,  that  we  may  be  delivered  from  the  dread  of  its  consequences  in 
the  life  to  come. 

"O  Divine  Brother  of  our  race,  shed  abroad  thy  love,  that  those 
whom  thou  hast  redeemed  may  become  an  holy  brotherhood,  knit  to- 
gether in  thee,  gathering  unto  thee  all  the  kindreds  of  the  earth. 

"  0  Prince  of  peace,  govern  in  our  hearts,  dispelling  all  angry  pas- 


432  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS   MUHLENBERG. 

sions  and  ill-will,  and  all  that  is  discordant  with  the  harmony  of  thy 
rule.  Sway  the  nations  of  the  earth.  Put  an  end  to  their  enmities  and 
strifes.  Hasten  the  time  when  they  shall  prepare  for  war  no  more, 
and  rest  secure  in  thine  empire  of  peace,  to  the  glory  of  thee,  and  of 
the  Father,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  world  without  end.  Amen." 

"GLORIA   CHRISTI. 

"  O  sing  unto  the  Lord  a  new  song;  let  the  congregation  of  saints 
praise  him. 

Let  Israel  rejoice  in  him  that  made  him;  and  let  the  children  of  Zion 
be  joyful  in  their  King. 

In  him  the  First  and  the  Last,  the  same  yesterday,  to-day,  and  for- 
ever. 

The  Angel  of  the  Covenant,  the  Ancient  of  days. 

The  Desire  of  all  Nations,  the  Glory  of  his  people  Israel. 

The  Koot  and  Offspring  of  David,  The  Bright  and  Morning  Star. 

The  Son  of  Mary:  The  Only  Begotten  of  the  Father,  full  of  grace 
and  truth. 

The  Day  Spring  from  on  High:  The  Sun  of  Righteousness  risen  with 
healing  in  his  wings. 

The  Eose  of  Sharon,  and  the  Lily  of  the  Valley. 

The  Crown  of  Glory,  The  Diadem  of  Beauty  unto  His  people. 

The  Author  and  Finisher  of  our  Faith,  the  Shepherd  and  Bishop  of 
our  souls. 

The  Lamb  slain  from  the  foundation  of  the  world:  High  Priest  for- 
ever, after  the  order  of  Melchizedec. 

The  Propitiation  for  the  Sins  of  the  world:  the  Only  Name  under 
Heaven  given  among  men  whereby  we  must  be  saved. 

The  Prophet,  Priest,  and  King:  The  Lord  our  Eighteousness. 

The  Judge  of  the  Quick  and  the  Dead:  he  that  hath  the  keys  of 
Death  and  HeU. 

God  manifest  in  the  Flesh:  Image  of  the  Invisible  God. 

The  Brightness  of  the  Father's  Glory:  The  express  Image  of  his 
Person. 

King  of  Kings,  and  Lord  of  Lords:  God  over  all  blessed  for  ever- 
more." 


THE    CHRISTMAS    CANTATE.  433 

This  last,  as  a  Cant-ate  for  Christmas,  has  been 
known  and  used  in  St.  Luke's  Hospital  for  some  years. 
"What  is  that  you  are  singing?"  was  asked  of  the 
sick  children  there  one  day,  as  they  chanted  it  heartily 
in  their  ward.  "All  the  beautiful  names  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,"  was  the  reply  of  the  little  ones.  "Yes," 

returned  the  Kev.  Dr.  ,  "engraft  those  words  on 

their  minds,  and  they  will  never  fall  into  false  doctrine." 

The  Church  of  the  Testimony  was  dedicated  on 
the  8th  of  October,  1870.  It  was  a  'white  day'  for 
Dr.  Muhlenberg  and  for  St.  Johnland.  The  weather 
was  enjoyable,  and  all  present  evinced  warm  sympa- 
thy and  appreciation.  The  guests  of  the  occasion, 
clerical  and  lay,  numerous  for  the  accommodations 
of  the  place,  came  down  from  town  the  day  before, 
in  readiness  for  the  event,  and  St.  John's  Inn,  being 
then  just  completed  and  newly  fitted  up  for  its  ex- 
pected aged  beneficiaries,  received  its  house-warming 
in  lodging  many  of  the  visitors.  More  than  one  dis- 
tinguished city  clergyman  slept  that  night  in  an  old 
man's  alcove.  This  was  the  opening  service  of  the 
Church.  The  following  Sunday  the  unwonted  sound 
of  its  bell  broke  the  sabbath  stillness  of  the  neighbor- 
hood for  the  first  regular  morning  and  afternoon 
worship,  and  from  that  day  forth  the  pretty  rural 
sanctuary  has  always  had,  in  goodly  number,  its  bands 
of  reverent  worshippers,  whose  hearty  responses  and 
full  congregational  singing  as  initiated  by  the  Found- 
er have  been  well  kept  up  and  might  do  credit  to 
many  a  larger  parish. 


434  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

Thus  St.  Johnland,  at  every  step,  if  somewhat  slow 
of  movement,  has  made  sure  and  substantial  progress. 
The  original  hindrances  to  the  establishment  of  a  cot- 
tage tenantry  doing  work  from  the  city,  have  heen 
one  by  one  removed.  The  railroad  with  its  St.  John- 
land  Station  and  Post  Office  within  a  mile  and  a  half 
of  the  village,  followed  quickly  upon  the  opening  of 
the  Church  until  at  length  nothing  is  wanting  for  the 
development  of  the  place  after  the  pattern  so  beauti- 
fully laid  down  by  Dr.  Muhlenberg  but  contributions 
in  sufficient  amount  for  the  purpose. 

An  advance  towards  the  realization  of  the  princi- 
pal feature  of  the  plan  is  started.  The  cottages  now 
in  erection  are  the  gifts  of  individual  friends  of  the 
work.  Each  one  has  five  or  six  rooms  and  a  garden 
of  its  own.  No  profit  is  to  be  made  by  any  one  out 
of  the  rent,  which  is  therefore  far  less  than  would  be 
paid  for  half  the  space  in  a  crowded  city  tenement; 
but  the  collective  rents  are  expected  ultimately  to  pay 
the  expenses  of  the  business  agent,  and  cost  of  trans- 
portation of  work,  and  to  keep  the  houses  in  repair. 

With  the  living  work  thus  at  last  unfolding  itself, 
and  its  projector  no  longer  here,  the  following  addi- 
tional exposition  of  what  it  is  and  what  it  is  not,  from 
his  own  pen,  is  of  value: 

"The  primary  objects  of  the  foundation,"  he  says, 
"are,  in  the  first  place,  to  afford  to  certain  classes 
of  the  deserving  and  industrious  poor,  a  comfortable 
home  in  the  country,  in  place  of  the  wretched  abodes 
to  which  they  are  doomed  in  the  city.  By  certain 


MISTAKES    CORRECTED.  435 

classes  of  such  poor,  is  meant  those  who  get  their 
living  in  branches  of  industry  which  they  carry  on 
at  their  own  apartments — for  example,  tailors,  cap- 
makers, clear-starchers,  shoemakers,  umbrella-stitchers, 
seamstresses,  and  the  many  other  operatives  who  are 
employed  in  large  establishments,  where  they  get  the 
material  of  their  work  and  return  it  when  it  is  done. 
This  they  could  do  out  of  town  as  well  as  in  it,  an 
agency  being  established  for  carriage  between  them 
and  their  employers." 

He  refutes,  with  characteristic  naivete,  various  errors 
with  regard  to  the  scope  and  aim  of  his  design  into 
which  certain  persons  have  fallen,  and  so  doing  con- 
tributes to  the  fuller  elucidation  of  the  enterprise. 

Thus :  " '  I  have  come  to  inform  you,'  said ,  *  of  a 

most  worthy  family,  just  the  kind  for  your  St.  Johnland 
— an  old  man  and  his  wife,  too  infirm  to  do  any  thing 
for  themselves,  dependent  upon  an  only  daughter  who 
is  in  poor  health  herself.  They  are  living  in  a  wretched 
hole,  and  I  was  thinking  what  a  mercy  it  would  be 
if  they  could  exchange  it  for  one  of  your  places  in  the 
country.' 

'"Certainly,  it  would;  but  how  would  they  support 
themselves  ? ' 

" '  They  could  not  do  much  at  that ;  the  daughter 
makes  something  at  sewing.' 

"'Which  would  not  be  enough  to  pay  the  rent.' 

" '  Kent !  Why,  must  your  people  pay  rent  ?  I  thought 
they  would  have  their  dwelling  free  and  then  do  what 

they  could  to  eke  out  a  living.' 

28 


436  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

"  '  That  would  be  to  make  country-seats  for  the  poor, 
which  for  some  of  them  indeed  would  be  a  very  good 
thing;  but  it  is  not  the  object  of  St.  Johnland,  nor  is 
the  place  designed  for  the  poor  generally.' 

"  '  For  whom,  then  ? ' 

"  '  For  working  people  who  can  maintain  themselves 
by  their  industry  in  an  honest  independence.' 

"  *  How  can  people,  who  have  been  earning  their  liv- 
ing in  the  city,  do  so  in  the  country  ? ' 

" l  Not  all,  of  course ;  but  those  who  work  at  trades 
under  their  own  roofs,  such  as  tailors,  shoemakers, 
shirtinakers  and  many  others.' 

" '  Your  plan,  then,  is  not  so  comprehensive  as  I 
imagined.' 

.  " '  It  is  still  more  limited.  It  is  for  well-disposed 
working  people,  who  value  Christian  privileges;  and 
especially  those  who  have  children  to  bring  up,  to 
do  which  as  they  desire,  is  a  thing  impossible  in  their 
present  circumstances.' 

" '  This,  I  fear,  is  rather  a  limited  class  of  the  poor.' 

"  '  Not  by  any  means  as  limited  as  you  fancy.  Amid 
those  masses,  as  we  call  them,  who,  for  the  most  part 
seem  well  content  with  their  condition,  there  are 
scattered  families  of  our  Protestant  faith,  and  adorning 
it  too,  who  are  far  from  being  content,  chiefly  on  ac- 
count of  their  children,  exposed  as  they  are  to  demor- 
alizing influences,  and  often  to  the  vilest  associa- 
tions. I  could  show  you  decent  and  pious  families  of 
whom  you  would  say  it  is  a  shame  they  should  be  left 
immured  in  those  heaps  of  physical  and  moral  corrup- 


OUR   KINSMEN  IN  CHRIST.  437 

tion.  Such  as  these,  you  must  allow,  have  a  pre-emi- 
nent claim  on  our  consideration.  They  are  our  fellow 
Christians.  Our  charity  of  course  should  be  with- 
held from  none  to  whom  we  can  extend  it,  but  "  charity 
begins  at  home."  And  surely  our  kinsmen  in  Christ 
are  at  home  .  .'" 

Again,  he  says:  "To  some  minds  the  scheme  has 
this  defect.  The  tenants  of  the  cottages  can  never 
own  them ;  whatever  be  their  industry,  they  can  never 
become  independent  proprietors  of  their  own  houses. 
They  would  thus  lack  one  powerful  motive  to  exertion 
and  good  conduct.  Why  not  supply  them  with  this 
motive?  Because  it  would  not  consist  with  the  per- 
manent welfare  of  the  place.  The  first  proprietors 
might  continue  all  right,  but  there  would  be  no  secu- 
rity for  such  continuance  in  their  heirs.  In  a  genera- 
tion or  two  the  community  might  be  infested  with  the 
ordinary  nuisances  of  country  towns.  No.  When  any 
of  the  tenants  shall  have  saved  enough  to  purchase 
property,  let  them  do  it  somewhere  else,  and  leave 
their  St.  Johnland  homes  for  others  in  their  turn  to 
do  likewise. 

"This  brings  into  view  a  very  important  feature  of  the 
whole  project ;  its  being  educational,  not  of  the  young 
alone,  but  of  families,  and  in  their  capacity  as  families, 
with  husbands  and  wives,  parents  and  children,  broth 
ers  and  sisters  under  teachings  and  influences  training 
them  in  their  respective  and  relative  duties.  St.  John- 
land  may  be  viewed  as  a  college  for  education  in  the 
domestic  virtues,  for  the  elevation  of  the  family-ship  of 


438  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS   MUHLENBERG. 

its  members.  To  preserve  as  much  as  possible  its  prim- 
itive social  and  moral  character,  it  should  never  be- 
come a  large  town.  Limits  should  be  set  to  it  by 
law.  .  .  ." 

"'After  all,  will  not  the  good  done  be  very  small?' 
Yes,  in  comparison  with  the  amount  of  the  same  kind 
of  good  which  would  still  be  left  undone,  but  not  small 
in  itself.  Suppose  the  settlement  to  become  in  the 
course  of  a  few  years,  a  well-ordered  rural  parish,  with 
an  industrious  population  of  some  four  or  five  hundred 
(he  contemplated  about  one  hundred  homes)  taken 
from  the  tenement  dens  of  the  city;  it  would  be  no 
very  small  thing,  nor  cost  more  than  it  would  be  worth 
— yet  that  would  be  only  a  beginning.  As  sure  as  the 
present  enterprise  succeeds  it  will  be  followed  by  oth- 
ers, and  many  a  St.  Johnland  will  spring  up  as  little 
'cities  of  refuge7  from  the  moral  devastations  of  the 
great  city,  for  the  saving  of  thousands  to  the  Church 
and  State  in  generations  to  come.  Nay,  looking  fur- 
ther, we  are  sanguine  enough  to  see  it  no  uncommon 
thing  for  benevolent  gentlemen  to  have  these  industrial 
communities  on  their  own  country  estates.  Why  not  ? 
Why  should  it  be  a  strange  thing  for  large-hearted 
men,  with  ample  means,  to  be  such  Christian  lords  of 
the  manor  going  in  and  out  among  them  as  fathers  and 
brothers  ?  This  is  to  be  one  of  the  forms  of  Evangelical 
Brotherhood  in  the  Johannean  Church  to  come." 

One  more  explanation  must  not  be  omitted,  as  it 
concerns  the  "great  St.  Johnland  text"  which  makes 
the  motto  of  the  seal  of  the  Corporation.  It  is  also 


THE    GREAT   ST.    JOPINLAND    TEXT.  439 

the  legend  of  the  chancel  window  of  the  Church, 
and  the  continually  iterated,  fundamental  law  of  the 
settlement. 

k"Tms  is  His  COMMANDMENT  THAT  WE  SHOULD  BELIEVE  ON 
THE  NAME  OF  His  SON  JESUS  CHRIST,  AND  LOVE  ONE  ANOTHER, 
AS  HE  GAVE  us  COMMANDMENT.'  He,  in  the  second  instance 
referring  to  Jesus  Christ,  we  have  here" — explained  Dr. 
Muhlenberg — "the  whole  Gospel  Law:  the  Father  com- 
manding us  to  believe  in  the  Son,  and  the  Son,  com- 
manding us  to  love  one  another.  Would  that  this 
might  be  our  sovereign  and  living  law,  and  so  make 
the  place  really  a  St.  Johnland,  not  St.  John's  land  as 
some  would  have  it.  We  have  not  dedicated  it  to  St. 
John,  but  use  his  name  attributively.  Johannean,  as 
expressing  his  characteristic  spirit,  in  the  hope  that 
that  spirit  of  brotherly  love  flowing  from  faith  in  Christ 
will  make  ours  a  St.  Johannean  Land,  or,  as  we  abridge 
it,  St.  Johnland.  Happy  shall  we  be  if  so  blessed  of 
the  Lord " 

Some  intelligent  and  travelled  persons,  in  speaking 
of  St.  Johnland,  and  with  the  hereditary  affinities  of  its 
Founder  in  their  minds,  have  hastily  pronounced  it, 
"  one  of  those  rural  institutions  dotting  everywhere  the 
suburban  districts  of  Germany."  This  is  altogether  er- 
roneous. What  resemblance  they  find  is  simply  in 
the  superficial  aspect  of  the  place,  its  simplicity,  un- 
worldliness,  and  evident  Christian  rule.  Those  German 
Protestant  foundations  are  primarily  eleemosynary,  re- 
formatory, or  protectionary  institutions;  conducted  in- 
deed by  devoted,  large-hearted  men  and  women  of  like 


440  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS   MUHLENBERG. 

spirit  with  the  Founder  of  St.  Johnland,  but  having, 
with  the  same  aim  for  the  glory  of  God,  a  very  different 
object  and  field  of  labor. 

Dr.  Wichern  of  the  Kauhe  Haus  of  Hamburg  was  per- 
haps the  nearest  to  Dr.  Muhlenberg  of  all  these  devoted 
workers.  Through  mutual  friends,  these  two  brother 
philanthropists  knew  something  of  each  other,  and  at 
one  time  there  was  a  prospect  that  Dr.  Wichern  would 
be  the  guest  of  Dr.  Muhlenberg  at  St.  Luke's,  during  a 
visit  which  he  proposed  making  to  this  country,  but 
did  not  accomplish.  His  colony  of  cottages  for  the 
neglected  little  outcasts  of  the  streets  of  Hamburg  is  a 
most  self-denying  and  admirable  undertaking,  but  not 
at  all  analogous  to  Dr.  Muhlen berg's  conception  of  ele- 
vating famtty  life,  in  certain  classes  of  our  city  poor,  by 
means  of  the  cottage  homes  of  his  rural  and  Industrial 
Church  Village. 

In  the  second  year  of  the  Incorporation  of  the  So- 
ciety, its  first  President,  Mr.  John  David  Wolfe,  was 
taken  hence.  His  death  on  the  17th  of  May,  1872,  was 
both  a  loss  and  a  grief  to  Dr.  Muhlenberg.  Mr.  Wolfe's 
goodness  and  benevolence  had,  during  his  last  years, 
been  warmly  thrown  into  Dr.  Muhlenberg's  Chris- 
tian labors,  and  of  some,  as  for  instance  St.  John- 
land,  he  was  a  very  generous  supporter.  An  ever- 
ready  and  liberal  hand  he  had  also  in  the  multitude  of 
demands  made  upon  Dr.  Muhlenberg's  sympathy  from 
all  parts  of  the  church.  Dr.  Muhlenberg  had  a  fine 
generosity  in  pleading  the  cause  of  charities  not  his 
own,  and  his  brother  clergymen  far  and  near,  deacons, 


A    MUNIFICENT  FRIEND.  441 

priests,  and  even  bishops,  as  well  as  lay  people  came  to 
him  for  aid  in  their  need.  He  never  turned  to  them  a 
deaf  or  selfish  ear,  nor  could  he  be  happy  until  he  had 
done  all  in  his  power  to  serve  them. 

His  frequent  resort  in  such  cases,  at  this  period,  was 
Mr.  Wolfe's  house,  where,  after  a  facetious  passage-at- 
arms  between  the  two,  he  always  obtained  what  he 
went  for,  and  sometimes  much  more.  An  instance  of 
the,  latter  kind  is  remembered.  Greeting  Dr.  Muhlen- 
berg  merrily,  at  one  of  the  latter's  usual  morning  calls 
in  Madison  Square,  Mr.  Wolfe  inquired, 

"  Well !  what's  the  matter  now  ?  Somebody's  church 
burned  down,  eh !  " 

"Not  quite  so  bad  as  that,"  said  Dr.  Muhlenberg; 
and  then  told  his  story. 

"  Well,  how  much  do  you  want  ?  " 

"  Oh,  a  hundred  dollars." 

Mr.  Wolfe  laughingly  put  into  his  hand  twice  the 
amount,  saying, 

"Will  that  do  for  you?" 

Something  similar,  though  on  a  vastly  larger  scale 
transpired  in  relation  to  the  building  of  St.  John's  Inn, 
or  the  Old  Man's  Home  at  St.  Johnland.  After  Dr. 
Muhlenberg  had  laid  before  Mr.  Wolfe  the  plan  of 
this  charity  the  latter  sent  him  ten  thousand  dollars,  a 
subscription  it  was  supposed  to  be  towards  the  work,  in 
which  others  would  share.  Mr.  Adam  Norrie,  learning 
what  had  been  initiated,  said  he  would  give  five  thou- 
sand to  the  same  object,  and  Dr.  Muhlenberg,  greatly 
encouraged,  went  to  Mr.  Wolfe  to  communicate  the 


442  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

good  news.  He  was  at  once  drolly  met  with  feigned  dis- 
pleasure, thus :  "  Pray,  what  business  has  Norrie  inter- 
fering with  my  work?  When  the  ten  thousand  was 
gone,  couldn't  you  ask  me  for  more  ?  Did  I  say  that 
was  all  you  were  to  have?"  And  so,  as  stated  in  a 
previous  chapter,  St.  John's  Inn  is  the  sole  gift  of  Mr. 
John  David  Wolfe.  He  designed,  had  he  survived,  to 
complete  his  work  by  the  beginning  of  an  endowment ; 
a  purpose  faithfully  carried  out,  later,  by  the  filial  piety 
of  his  daughter,  in  the  sum  of  fifty  thousand  dollars. 

It  has  been  justly  said  of  Mr.  Wolfe  that  "  he  never 
did  any  thing  penuriously,  but,  at  the  same  time,  his 
range  was  almost  boundless.  If  he  had  'pet'  chari- 
ties, they  did  not  shut  others  less  engaging  or  less  ro- 
mantic from  his  vision.  He  saw,  with  as  vivid  a  dis- 
cernment, the  claims  of  the  cross  of  Christ  on  the  coast 
of  Cape  Palmas,  as  he  saw  the  needs  of  neglected 
and  untaught  children  in  the  streets  of  his  own  city." 
The  loss  to  Dr.  Muhlenberg  of  such  a  friend  is  easily 
appreciated. 

Frequent  comment  has  been  made  upon  the  peculiar 
faculty  of  Dr.  Muhlenberg  in  obtaining  money  for  his 
many  and  costly  charitable  undertakings.  The  expres- 
sion "he  knew  how  to  get  at  people's  pockets"  is  a  very 
common  one,  more  common  than  properly  applicable. 
He  did  not  consciously  possess  any  knowledge  as  to  the 
best  means  to  such  an  end ;  and  no  one,  perhaps,  having 
a  work  of  charity  on  hand,  has  been  less  of  a  special 
pleader  for  it  than  he,  at  least  as  to  personal  and  indi- 
vidual solicitation  for  the  support  of  his  own  projects. 


"ffJS    TAUGHT   US    TO    GIVE"  443 

His  remarkable  power  in  this  particular,  is  better 
expressed  in  the  words  of  a  venerable  lady  whose  gen- 
erous and  systematic  benefactions  in  all  directions  are 
constantly  accompanied  by  an  outspoken  acknowledg- 
ment of  indebtedness  to  Dr.  Muhlenberg  for  the  joy 
she  finds  in  such  deeds:  "We  owe  it  all  to  him.  You 
know,  he  taught  us  to  give."  This  was  it.  His  un- 
feigned faith,  his  deep  conviction  and  forcible  enuncia- 
tion of  Christian  responsibility  in  the  matter  of  wealth, 
together  with  his  simple  life,  singular  unselfishness, 
and  genius  for  opening  up  new  and  large  channels  of 
true  benevolence,  have,  it  must  be  allowed,  been  power- 
ful influences  in  moving  "the  honest  and  good  hearts" 
of  his  day  and  generation  to  a  nobler  and  more  Chris- 
tian giving. 

"It  would  be  interesting,"  said  one,  "to  know  the 
entire  sum  which,  from  first  to  last,  passed  through  Dr. 
Muhlenberg's  hands  for  purposes  of  charity."  Secretly 
and  delicately  as  he  did  much  of  this  part  of  his  work, 
an  approach  to  such  an  aggregate  would  be  impossible. 
The  question  probably  never  entered  his  mind.  He 
never  made  "  looking  glasses "  for  his  good  deeds.  He 
rejoiced  when  the  people  gave  generously  for  a  good 
object,  whether  of  his  own  proposing  or  not,  would  talk 
gayly  about  the  amount,  and,  if  of  great  personal  inter- 
est, would  be  exhilarated  by  it;  but  those  who  knew 
him  best,  never  heard  him  so  much  as  glance  at  the 
probable  total  of  money  influenced  by  himself  towards 
works  of  beneficence. 


CHAPTER   XXV. 

1872-1873. 

A  summer  Holiday. — The  Peasantry  of  Europe  and  St.  Johnland. — Lon- 
don. —  Essay  on  Potentiality  of  the  English  Bishops.  —  A  Birthday 
abroad.— Home.— A  Sea-Song.— The  Bells  of  St.  Thomas's  Church.— 
Unimpaired  Sensibility  and  Sportiveness. — Characteristics  of  early  Man- 
hood unchanged. — Extract  from  Letter. — The  freshest  of  the  Party. 

THE  summer  months  of  the  year  1872  were  spent  in 
Europe,  in  company  with  two  friends,  and  a  young 
man  as  an  attendant.  The  venerable  head  of  the  party 
proved  himself  fresh  enough  thoroughly  to  enjoy  the 
holiday,  and  to  be  a  most  amiable  and  accommodating 
travelling  companion. 

He  carried  his  dear  St.  Johnland  in  his  thoughts 
throughout  the  trip,  longing  to  transport  thither  many 
of  the  ill-fed  and  oppressed  peasant  families  of  the 
Continent,  with  whom  he  sought  and  made  acquaint- 
ance. Sometimes  he  went  a  little  farther  with  them  in 
talks  to  this  end  than  there  was  a  probability  of  being 
able  so  to  serve  them. 

He  always  enjoyed  London.  Besides  its  inexhaust- 
ible objects  of  interest,  the  repose  of  the  vast  city,  not- 
withstanding its  many  millions  of  inhabitants,  was 
very  agreeable  to  him,  and,  at  this  time,  seemed  to 


THE    ENGLISH  EPISCOPATE.  445 

invite  him  anew  to  the  use  of  his  pen.  During  his 
stay  of  some  three  weeks  there,  he  sketched  his  Essay 
on  the  Potentiality  of  the  English  Bishops,  mentioned 
in  describing  the  Memorial  Movement.  It  was  his 
design  to  re-write  this  paper,  and  to  put  it  in  proper 
shape  for  presentation  to  the  archbishop  of  Canterbury, 
but  the  pressure  of  engagements  on  his  return  home, 
and  various  subsequent  hindrances,  prevented  any  fur- 
ther attention  to  the  manuscript. 

The  essay,  though  crude  and  incomplete,  contains 
much  that  should  not  be  lost,  and  written  thus,  when 
entering  his  seventy-seventh  year,  is  an  interesting 
witness  of  the  grand  old  hero's  unceasing  battle  for 
unity,  and  equally  of  his  genuine  reverence  for  the 
historic  episcopate. 

The  argument  of  the  paper  is  very  much  that  of 
one  part  of  the  Memorial  to  the  House  of  Bishops, 
offered  nearly  twenty  years  before,  or  of  his  "Hints 
on  Catholic  Union,"  nearly  twice  as  far  back  (1835); 
but  with  a  special  application  to  the  English  episco- 
pate, and  the  peculiar  vantage-ground  that  it  occu- 
pies in  the  premises. 

The  following  extract  will  serve  as  an  example  of 
the  leading  thought,  which  he  carried  out  with  his 
usual  clearness,  making  many  strong  points: 

".  .  .  .  The  Bishops  of  the  Church  of  England 
from  their  ecclesiastical  position — the  historic  prestige 
of  their  office;  the  moral  weight  of  their  character; 
their  influence  as  the  chief  pastors  of  the  church  of 
Christ  in  a  mighty  nation,  the  centre  of  civilization; 


446  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS   MUHLENBERG. 

their  diversity  of  theological  sentiment,  consistent 
with  the  orthodox  faith;  and  other  like  advantages, 
have  more  power  to  turn  the  essential  oneness  of 
Evangelic  Protestantism  to  practical  account,  than 
any  other  body  of  men  in  the  world. 

"  Suppose  that  they  saw  this  themselves, — that  their 
disposition  was  equal  to  their  ability  in  the  matter; 
and,  consequently,  that  they,  or  any  number  of  them, 
however  small,  would  combine  to  use  that  power,  no 
one  could  suppose  it  would  be  only  an  impotent  at- 
tempt. .  .  .  Some  of  the  different  ways  in  which 
the  bishops  could  use  their  power  for  the  desired  end 
would  be,  for  example:  By  making  more  a  reality 
than  it  now  is  their  office  as  bishops  of  their  respective 
dioceses;  by  looking  upon  all  the  Christian  congrega- 
tions, of  whatever  names  therein,  as,  more  or  less, 
having  a  claim  upon  their  care  as  shepherds  of  the 
flock  of  Christ,  and  accordingly  visiting  those  who, 
though  not  owning  their  official  jurisdiction,  would 
kindly  receive  them — they  not  coming  to  assert  their 
authority,  but  to  speak  to  fellow  Christians  of  the 
Common  Salvation;  thus  taking  opportunity  to  exer- 
cise the  highest  primary  function  of  their  office  (for 
church  commission  to  the  first  bishops  was  to  preach 
the  Gospel;  government  later  fell  into  their  hands), 
they  might  even  be  glad,  as  apostolic  bishops,  so  far  to 
acquit  themselves  of  their  duty,  in  preaching  Christ 
to  whoever  would  hear,  whether  those  hearers  ac- 
knowledged their  jurisdiction  or  not.  ...  Or  again, 
the  bishops  might  encourage  their  clergy  to  distinguish 


IN   ST.    PAUL'S    CATHEDRAL.  447 

among  'Dissenting'  ministers  between  the  sound  and 
the  unsound  in  the  faith;  to  hold  fellowship  with  the 
former  as  preachers  of  the  Gospel,  though  deeming 
them  wanting  in  valid  orders  for  the  Christian  priest- 
hood, if  such  priesthood  there  be.  ... " 

His  birthday,  this  year,  was  spent  in  London.  He 
attended  morning  service  at  St.  Paul's  Cathedral,  where 
he  enjoyed  particularly  the  anthem,  "Teach  me,  0 
Lord,  the  way  of  thy  statutes,  and  I  shall  keep  it 
unto  the  end."  The  last  words,  his  spiritual  and  po- 
etic mind  accepted  as  a  personal  promise.  As  the 
congregation  dispersed,  he  had  the  pleasure  to  meet 
Bishop  Whittingham,  and  two  other  clerical  friends 
accompanying  the  bishop  as  chaplain  and  secretary 
for  his  attendance,  by  special  invitation,  at  the  con- 
ference of  the  "  Old  Catholics "  at  Cologne,  whither 
they  were  on  their  way.  A  visit  of  Christian  sym- 
pathy to  some  of  the  poorest  patients  in  St.  Barthol- 
omew's Hospital,  and  a  dinner  at  his  lodgings,  glad- 
dened by  the  presence  of  two  of  his  "boys,"  accidentally 
in  London,  carried  him  happily  past  another  mile-stone 
in  his  life's  journey. 

He  sailed  for  New  York  on  the  10th  of  October,  in 
the  steamer  which  had  brought  him  out.  The  prin- 
cipal incident  of  the  voyage  was  subsequently  made 
the  subject  of  a  communication  by  one  of  the  passen- 
gers, which  we  borrow. 

"  Most  persons  who  have  traversed  the  '  great  deep,' 
know  something  of  the  dreariness  of  a  Sunday  at  sea 
— the  religious  services,  if  there  are  any,  often  dull  and 


448  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS   MUHLENBERG. 

tame,  from  their  want  of  adaptation  to  the  peculiar  cir- 
cumstances of  the  worshippers.  But  a  delightful  ex- 
ception to  the  common  experience  fell  to  the  lot  of 
us,  of  the  steamship  Cuba,  last  Sunday  morning.  It 
was  our  good  fortune  to  have  as  a  fellow-passenger, 
the  venerable  Dr.  Muhlenberg,  of  New  York,  who,  with 
an  energy  and  freshness  of  feeling,  remarkable  at  his 
age  and  under  the  disadvantages  of  a  sea  voyage, 
made  the  day  one  to  be  long  remembered  by  those 
who  spent  it  with  him. 

"  During  the  week  we  had  had  a  good  deal  of  heavy 
sea,  and  some  rather  rough  going;  most  of  us  were 
sighing  for  land  and  home.  Possibly  the  minister 
was  too,  for  he  took  this  home-longing  as  the  keynote 
of  the  day,  arid  a  very  beautiful  use  he  made  of  it. 
After  an  impressive  reading  of  the  lessons,  and  the 
grand  old  prayers  of  our  church,  he  preached  a  ser- 
mon, written  on  board,  from  the  words:  'In  my  Fa- 
ther's house  are  many  mansions,  if  it  were  not  so,  I 
would  have  told  you;'  dwelling,  first,  on  the  love  of 
home,  as  a  world-wide  instinct  of  our  social  nature, 
and  thence  leading  our  aspirations  to  the  home  ever- 
lasting, with  a  power  and  unction  which  found  a  warm 
response  in  the  hearers,  as  shown  in  the  hearty  sing- 
ing of  the  concluding  hymn,  an  original  composition, 
written  by  himself  for  the  purpose.  It  was  an  ocean- 
born  'Sweet  Home,'  having  for  its  chorus: 

"'Home,  sweet  home, 
Earth's  holiest  love, 
Then,  the  one  Home  above  ! ' 


BELLS    OF  ST.    THOMAS'S    CHURCH.  449 

"  It  afterwards  appeared  that  during  one  of  the  pre- 
vious days  of  discomfort,  the  good  Doctor  had  occupied 
himself  in  writing  this  Christian  *  Home,  sweet  Home,' 
and  three  or  four  friends  among  the  passengers  had 
made  a  score  or  so  of  copies  for  the  Sunday  service. 
Nothing  of  the  kind  could  have  been  more  successful, 
— the  tender,  encouraging  words,  the  old  tune,  the 
time  and  circumstances,  were  all  in  happiest  accord. 
Many  eyes  moistened,  many  hearts  were  touched,  every 
one  feeling  a  proprietorship  in  the  piece.  In  the  after 
part  of  the  day,  little  groups  might  be  seen  in  different 
parts  of  the  ship,  making  copies  for  themselves  or  their 
friends,  as  mementoes  of  the  occasion " 

His  facility  for  rhyming  increased  rather  than  dimin- 
ished with  years.  The  next  summer,  when  a  chime 
of  bells  was  under  consideration  for  St.  Thomas's 
Church  (Fifty-third  St.  and  Fifth  Ave.,  N.  Y.),  some  cor- 
respondence on  the  subject  passed  between  the  rector 
of  the  same  and  the  Pastor  of  the  Hospital,  the  latter 
strenuously  urging  the  disturbing  effect,  which,  from 
their  close  proximity,  the  chime  was  likely  to  have 
upon  the  sicker  patients.  His  deep  sympathy  with 
his  suffering  charge  made  him  unusually  tenacious  in 
his  objections,  so  much  so,  that  some  one  in  the  parish 
intimated  to  him  that  if  St.  Luke's  Hospital  did  not 
like  St.  Thomas's  bells,  perhaps  she  had  better  betake 
herself  elsewhere.  A  suggestion  indeed  had  before 
this  been  made  more  than  once  in  other  quarters, 
that  so  magnificent  a  location  as  Fifty-fourth  Street 
and  Fifth  &ve.  (a  rude  enough  one  when  St.  Luke's 


450  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

was  founded,  however)  should  not  be  occupied  by  a 
Hospital  for  the  sick  poor,  and  fabulous  amounts  were 
talked  of  as  likely  to  be  offered  for  the  removal  of  the 
Institution  into  a  less  aristocratic  neighborhood.  But 
the  good  Pastor  never  lent  his  mind  for  a  moment  to  the 
thought,  always  assuring  himself  the  building  would 
remain  where,  with  so  much  faith  and  prayer,  it  was 
originally  planted.  Still  he  felt  the  intimation  in  con- 
nection with  the  forthcoming  bells  of  St.  Thomas's,  and 
having  occasion  to  reply  to  a  friendly  note  of  the  rec- 
tor's (July  12,  1873),  wherein  the  bells  were  touched 
upon,  he  appended,  by  way  of  postscript,  and  as  the 
conclusion  of  his  argument,  the  following  lines  to  the 
bell-founder. 

"TO  MR.  MENEELY. 
"Master-workman,  ply  your  skill, 

Never  mind  how  large  the  bill, 

Bells  for  hallowed  use  alone 

Metal  need  of  choicest  tone — 

Silvery  notes  so  clear  and  sweet 

As  the  ear  may  love  to  greet, 

With  no  clanging,  deafening  sound 

Let  them  peal  the  air  around ; 

Soft  ethereal  harmonies 

Raising  spirits  to  the  skies, 

And  when  fullest,  still  so  mellow 

That  our  sickest,  on  his  pillow, 

Of  the  peal  will  ne'er  complain — 

Lulling,  not  increasing  pain. 

"Dear  Meneely,  heed  my  rhyme, 
Do  your  best  in  loveliest  chime, 
Then  St.  Thomas  from  St.  Luke, 


EARLY    TRAITS    UNCHANGED.  451 

Ne'er  shall  hear  a  cross  rebuke; 

Nor  St.  Thomas  ever  say, 

*  Good  St.  Luke,  prithee  away — 

Since  tny  noise  disturbs  your  ear 

Better  go,  where  you'll  not  hear; 

For,  in  fact,  with  all  your  grace 

Not,  exactly,  you're  in  place' — 

Thus,  on  you  how  much  depends, 

Neighbors,  still  to  keep  us  friends." — W.  A.  M. 

It  is  given  to  few  to  retain,  in  prolonged  age,  the 
sensibility,  tenderness,  and  sportiveness,  which,  to  the 
last,  distinguished  Dr.  Muhlenberg.  His  heart  never 
grew  chill  under  the  accumulated  snows  of  his  many 
winters.  At  seventy-seven  he  thus  gracefully  begins 
a  birthday  letter  to  the  friend  and  handmaid  of  his 
labors: — "A  dismal  atmosphere  for  your  birthday,  my 
dear, — but  it  would  have  to  be  a  thousand  times  dis- 
malkr,  to  keep  me  from  gladness  in  it " 

Possibly  rarely  any  have  continued  as  much  the  same 
in  ways  and  manners  from  the  beginning  to  the  end 
of  life  as  he.  His  individuality  is  marked  through- 
out. In  most  youthful  diaries,  one  sees  very  little  of 
the  essential  future  man,  but  in  Dr.  Muhlenberg's  boy 
journals,  however  immature,  the  personality  is  unmis- 
takable. Take  a  few  pages  written  at  fifteen,  and  an- 
other few  at  fifty,  and  the  identity  of  the  writer  could 
not  be  mistaken.  A  pleasing  and  more  direct  illus- 
tration of  this  particular,  exists  in  a  recent  letter  from 
a  venerable  gentleman,*  who  was  his  Sunday  scholar, 

*  Mr.   James  Aertsen,  Germantown,  Pa. ,  to  the  writer,   Oct.   12th, 

1878. 

29 


452  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

as  far  back  as  the  days  of  his  early  diaconate  in  St 
James's  Church,  Philadelphia  (1816). 

"  Dr.  Muhlenberg  was  my  friend,"  he  writes,  "  and  a 
very  dear  one,  in  early  boyhood.  His  first  sermon,  I 
shall  never  forget,  impressed  me  most  deeply,  and 
I  well  remember  the  firm  resolve  then  made  that  I 
should  follow  him  into  the  ministry — a  resolve  made, 
I  suppose,  by  hundreds  of  other  lads,  to  be  broken  or 
frustrated  as  mine  was  in  after  years.  We  were  then 
all  at  St.  James's,  ^and  he  undertook  the  task  of  train- 
ing some  boys  in  church  music,  intending  them  for 

the  choir However,  this  effort  of  our  dear 

Doctor's  did  not  avail  much.  His  prophetic  mind,  no 
doubt,  then  conceived  what  a  boy  choir  would  be,  at 
some  future  day,  but  the  time  had  not  come.  Per- 
haps he  had  poor  material — at  least,  in  one  case  I 

know  he  had The  impress  of  his  charac 

ter  was  never  wholly  effaced.  We  met  often  in  after 
years,  and  it  was  always  a  joy  to  me  that  he  had  not 
forgotten  the  past.  .  .  .  .  Clouds  and  showers, 
and  storm  and  sunshine  following  each  other,  have 
left  only  the  feeling  which  has  never  been  lost,  that 
Dr.  Muhlenberg  was  the  friend  of  my  boyhood.  Those 
who,  like  yourself,  knew  him  in  his  green  old  age, 
found  him  the  same  genial,  loving  friend,  whose  cheery 
voice  attracted  our  young  hearts  so  long  ago.  I  never 
knew  one  who  seemed  to  change  so  little. '  The  last 
time  I  met  him,  a  few  years  before  his  death,  I  thought 
I  saw  in  him  almost  all  those  traits  of  his  very  early 
manhood  which  captivated  me  at  first." 


FRESHEST    OF    THE    PARTY.  453 

Dr.  Mulilenberg's  wonderful  buoyancy  of  spirit  pos- 
sibly made  him,  not  unfrequently,  the  younger  in  such 
meetings  with  his  "boys,"  younger  as  to  feeling.  Some- 
where in  the  fall  of  this  year  or  early  spring  of  the  year 
following,  it  occurred  to  him,  circumstances  furthering 
the  thought,  to  invite  to  a  little  reunion  at  St.  Luke's 
Hospital,  his  two  first  boys,  now  themselves  fathers 
and  grandfathers,  together  with  a  German  youth  who 
was  his  last  boy,  or  "  grace-son,"  as  he  then  phrased  it. 
The  meeting  took  place,  but  was  not  attended  with 
the  pleasurable  excitement  he  had  anticipated.  Lapse 
of  years  and  the  cares  of  life  had  greatly  erased  early 
memories,  except  in  his  own  large  heart,  and  whatever 
of  sentiment  or  enthusiasm  illumined  the  reminiscences 
of  the  hour,  was  all  from  himself. 


CHAPTER   XXVI. 

1873-1874. 

One  more  Effort  for  Unity. — Address  before  Evangelical  Alliance.— Rep- 
resentative United  Communion.  —  Hedging  in  the  Lord's  Table. — 
Anticipation. — "Veni  Creator." — The  Dean  of  Canterbury,  Bishop 
Cummins,  and  the  Archbishop's  Chaplain  commune  in  Presbyterian 
Churches. — A  Word  going  to  the  Root  of  the  Matter. — Liberality 
of  the  Episcopal  Church  as  to  Communion. — An  Evangelical  Catholic 
Union. — Bishop  Cummins's  Secession  deplored. — A  published  Disap- 
proval.— Reformed  Episcopal  Church. — Not  an  earnest  religious  Move- 
ment.—  Illness. — Mental  Depression.  —  Spiritual  Communion. — A  last 
Writing  in  Journal. 

IT  remained  for  Dr.  Muhlenberg  to  make  one  more 
public  effort  in  the  cause  of  unity.  He  was  among 
the  appointed  speakers  of  the  Conference  of  the  Evan- 
gelical Alliance,  held  in  New  York  in  Oct.  1873,  and 
his  mind  being  at  the  time  intensely  occupied  with 
the  consideration  of  the  Lord's  Supper  in  its  rela- 
tion to  Christian  Union,  he  waived  the  topic  laid  down 
for  his  address  in  the  programme  of  the  Conference, 
and  read  a  paper  that  he  had  prepared  on  the  above 
theme. 

This  last  has  been  pronounced  the  least  wise  of  all 
his  writings.  That  is  yet  to  be  proven.  Time  must 
show  whether  the  principle  lying  at  the  core  of  this 
essay  is  a  seed  to  perish  in  the  planting,  or  haply  a 


REPRESENTATIVE    COMMUNIONS.  455 

true  mustard  seed  of  the  kingdom,  growing  up  by  and 
by  into  a  great  brooding  tree  of  holy  love  and  peace. 
It  would  seem  quite  possible  that  a  man  of  Dr.  Muhl- 
enberg's  experience,  so  full  of  the  mind  of  Christ,  and 
withal  so  signally  endued  with  originating  power, 
might  lead  in  a  plan  for  genuine  church  fellowship, 
where  some,  at  first,  are  not  prepared  to  follow.  "  The 
highest  mountains .  first  catch  the  morning  sunbeams." 

The  address  is  an  ardent  plea  for  Kepresentative 
United  Communions.  What  is  meant  by  this  can  only 
be  thoroughly  understood  by  an  attentive  perusal  of 
the  published  treatise.*  Dr.  Muhlenberg  is  careful  to 
explain  that  he  is  not  suggesting  any  interference  with 
the  accustomed  order  of  administering  the  Holy  Com- 
munion. "  We  all  have,"  he  says,  "  a  strong  attach- 
ment to  our  own  eucharistic  modes.  Nothing  here 
said  would  in  the  least  disturb  it.  It  is  a  pious  attach- 
ment which  it  would  be  well-nigh  impious  to  violate. 
Communicating  within  our  own  ecclesiastical  house- 
holds we  should  be  disorderly  if  we  did  not  conform 
to  their  established  order.  Never,  in  the  main,  could 
I  part  with  that  of  the  Liturgy,  enshrined  in  my  heart, 
as  it  enshrines  all  catholic  and  evangelic  truth." 

He  glances  at  the  strange  fact  that  the  Lord's  Sup- 
per, in  its  origin  essentially  a  bond  of  brotherhood,  is 
an  actual  wall  of  separation  between  the  different  hosts 
of  Christendom.  Not  to  speak  of  "the  wrathful  con- 
troversies, the  bitter  theological  strifes,  the  mutual  ex- 

*  See  Ev.  Cath.  Papers,  First  Series,  pp.  462,  et.  seq. 


456  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

communications  of  which  this  blessed  >  ordinance  has 
been  the  occasion — the  centre  of  peace  the  very  centre 
of  war;  there  is  the  singular  exclusiveness  in  the  mat- 
ter common  among  all  Protestant  Christians.  .  .  ." 
In  a  note  referring  to  the  general  indisposition  of 
Christians  to  communicate  outside  of  their  respective 
churches,  he  says  allowance  is  to  be  made  for  it,  "in 
their  fears  that  in  departing  from  the  ways  to  which 
they  have  always  been  used  in  their  communions,  the 
solemnity  of  the  ordinance  in  their  minds  would  be 
impaired.  .  .  .  So  of  some  of  the  sectarian  terms 
of  admission  to  the  communion — they  are  designed  to 
protect  its  sanctity."  "Once,"  he  adds  "when  I  was 
inviting  the  communicants  of  different  denominations, 
in  a  ward  of  St.  Luke's  Hospital,  a  devout  old  Scotch- 
man wondered  I  could  be  so  loose.  I  told  him  that  in 
my  church  all  who  desired  to  come,  unless  they  were 
openly  unworthy,  were  welcome  to  her  Board;  and 
that,  I  added,  I  thought  was  to  her  peculiar  credit 
and  in  the  spirit  of  her  Master.  'Nay,'  he  rejoined, 
'for  the  honor  of  the  Lord,  we  must  hedge  in  the 
Table  of  the  Lord.'  When  we  remember  how  much 
excommunicating  there  has  been  by  the  wise  and 
learned  for  'the  honor  of  the  Lord,'  and  in  defence 
of  human  dogmas  decreed  to  be  his  truth,  we  can 
excuse  the  old  Scotchman.  With  growing  light,  let 
us  hope  there  will  be  less  and  less  of  mistaken  zeal. 
It  is  only  among  enlightened  Christians,  to  be  found 
among  the  lowly  as  well  as  among  the  high,  that 
we  can  expect  much  affection  for  united  communions. 


VENI  CREATOR.  457 

These  occasions,  let  me  finally  observe,  would  of  course 
be  extraordinary  occasions,  and  should  not  be  lacking 
in  any  thing  of  order  or  circumstance  that  would  in- 
crease their  solemnity  and  make  it  proportionate  to 
their  solemn  object." 

After  carrying  the  mind  back  to  the  New  Testament 
exhibition  of  the  origin  of  the  sacrament,  and  to  the 
Pentecostal  Christians  whom  "  we  find  keeping  the  feast 
in  their  private  houses,  where  the  apostles,  who  as  yet 
were  the  only  ministers  of  the  New  Dispensation,  could 
not  always  have  been  present  to  give  their  authorita- 
tive benediction,"  he  suggests  that  the  especial  repre- 
sentative united  communions  which  he  has  in  view, 
would  have,  for  their  particular  purpose,  to  be  like 
those  of  the  pre-ecclesiastical  days  wherein  the  Eucha- 
rist was  ordained.  He  draws  a  glowing  picture  of  the 
blessed  effect  upon  the  world,  of  Christendom  fulfilling 
her  prophetic  type,  "Jerusalem  built  as  a  city,  at  unity 
with  herself,"  and  concludes  his  address  thus:  "But 
all  nothing, — communions,  Alliances,  hospitalities, — all 
nothing  without  larger  outpourings  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
in  the  love  of  Christ  constraining  us,  in  unselfishness, 
in  the  Spirit  of  conciliation  and  forbearance,  in  self- 
sacrifice,  in  the  affection  of  hearty  Brotherhood  in 
Christ.  Who  will  not  pray  for  that  in  the  invocation 
of  the  church  for  more  than  a  thousand  years, —  Veni 
Creator:' 

During  the  conference  of  the  Evangelical  Alliance, 
the  action  of  the  Dean  of  Canterbury,  and  of  another 
English  clergyman,  a  chaplain  of  the  archbishop's,  as 


458  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS   MUHLENBERG. 

also  that  of  the  then  assistant  Bishop  of  Kentucky,  in 
partaking  of  the  communion  in  three  several  Presbyte- 
rian churches,  was  pointedly  criticised  in  one  of  the 
daily  journals.  With  his  heart  full  of  the  subject  of 
Intercommunion,  Dr.  Muhlenberg  could  not  resist  "put- 
ting in  a  word,"  going  to  the  root  of  the  matter,  viz., 
the  origin  and  essential  nature  of  the  Lord's  Supper. 
In  concluding  his  note,  he  says  of  the  instance  of 
communicating  under  review:  "What  was  there  to 
hinder  it?  of  course  nothing  in  the  Bible,  nor  in  the 
law  of  the  Episcopal  Church.  She  prescribes  a  cer- 
tain order  of  Holy  Communion  for  her  members  com- 
municating within  her  pale;  but  there  are  baptized 
Christians  outside  her  pale.  Does  she  forbid  her  mem- 
bers ever  to  commune  with  them  ?  I  have  never  heard 
of  any  of  her  ministers  being  disciplined  for  inviting 
non-Episcopalians  to  their  chancels,  which  is  not  an 
uncommon  thing  with  them.  Indeed  it  is  claimed  as 
an  instance  of  her  liberal  spirit.  Thus  recognizing 
Christians  beyond  her  jurisdiction  as  worthy  of  a  place, 
side  by  side  with  her  members,  in  the  highest  act  of 
Christian  fellowship;  how  can  she  teach  her  members 
to  eschew  like  fellowships  when  invited  to  it  by  Chris- 
tians of  the  same  faith  with  themselves  anywhere? 
She  does  not.  She  dare  not.  Intercommunion  among 
Christians,  to  be  exercised  on  their  own  private  judg- 
ment, is  one  of  their  inalienable  rights." 

From  this  time  forward  he  loved  to  dwell  on  what  he 
named  "the  ministry  of  the  fellowship,"  often  saying, 
"I  would  rather  be  called  'a  minister  of  the  fellowship 


EVANGELICAL    CATHOLIC    CONFERENCE.          459 

of  Jesus,  the  Christ,'  than  by  the  proudest  title  Church 
or  State  has  to  confer."  At  the  same  time,  these  sym- 
pathies and  labors  for  unity,  not  uniformity,  in  no 
degree  impaired  his  steadfast  affection  for  his  own  com- 
munion. As  a  true  son  he  spared  no  pains  to  open  the 
eyes  of  the  venerable  mother  to  her  urgent  need  of 
greater  flexibility  and  adaptiveness  to  the  times,  but  he 
never  dreamed  of  voluntarily  separating  himself  from 
the  primitive  household.  The  secession  of  Bishop  Cum- 
mins at  this  time,  and  other  circumstances  relating 
to  the  organization  of  the  Reformed  Episcopal  Society, 
brought  this  out  very  distinctly. 

He  had  not  been  ignorant  of  the  growing  discontent 
of  some  of  the  best  minds  of  the  church,  at  the  increas- 
ing bias  in  ecclesiastical  legislation,  and  the  correspond- 
ent growth  of  exclusiveness,  both  in  theory  and  prac- 
tice. A  few  years  back  (1869)  he  had  met  a  num- 
ber of  such  in  an  Evangelical  Catholic  Conference  at 
Philadelphia,  where  his  presence  and  counsels  were 
enthusiastically  spoken  of  as  "oil  poured  upon  the 
troubled  waters."  It  is  remembered  that  then,  as  well 
as  later,  he  would  frequently  express  himself  to  this 
effect : 

"Let  us  have  a  good  courage.  Let  us  maintain 
what  we  know  to  be  the  fundamental  principles  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  prayerfully  act  up  to 
our  convictions  and  our  inherent  rights  as  her  mem- 
bers and  ministers  of  the  Gospel,  and  leave  the  rest 
to  God."  Again:  "If  a  hundred  clergymen  of  good 
repute  for  godly  living  united  in  this  'Evangelical 


460  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS   MUHLENBERG. 

Catholic  Union,'  we  should  be  listened  to,  and  room 
would  be  made  for  us — or,  if  not,  and  we  are  '  cast  out 
of  the  synagogue,'  why  then  we  should  be  martyrs  in 
a  good  cause,  and  might  glory  in  it.  But  this  last  is 
not  to  be  supposed." 

The  resignation  of  Bishop  Cummins  in  the  winter 
of  1873,  with  its  sequences,  was  both  a  surprise  and 
a  pain  to  him.  He  deplored  the  creation  of  "another 
sect."  And  when  in  the  early  days  of  the  new  organ- 
ization, presuming  upon  his  sympathy  in  their  church 
principles,  and  his  well-known  liberality  of  Christian 
sentiment,  they  indirectly  claimed  him  as  of  their 
party, — allusions  to  this  effect  appearing  more  than 
once  in  print, — he  felt  constrained  to  disclaim  all  con- 
nection with  them,  as  publicly  as  the  contrary  had 
been  implied.  In  his  note  of  explanation  to  the  edi- 
tors of  the  journal  *  who  had  thus  brought  him  for- 
ward, he  says,  in  relation  to  the  bishop's  grievances, 
"I  have  constantly  maintained  that  they  could  have 
been  relieved  by  another  than  the  sad  alternative 
which  he  has  adopted." 

A  more  distinct  expression  of  his  sentiments  on  this 
subject  is  given  in  the  following  extracts  from  the 
copy  of  a  letter  addressed  to  a  brother  clergyman, 
in  reply  to  one  from  him  in  which  he  earnestly  de- 
sired Dr.  Muhlenberg's  approval  of  the  Reformed  Epis- 
copal Church. 

It  is  an  affectionate  letter  of  some  length.     Dr.  Mulil- 

*  New  York  Tribune,  May  15th,  1874. 


BISHOP   CUMMINS.  »        461 

enberg,  says,  among  other  things,  "Bishop  Cummins 
had  no  necessity  to  take  this  step.  He  might  have 
remained  in  the  exercise  of  his  episcopate,  and  have 
done  what  he  thought  right — or,  if  not,  it  was  time 
enough  for  him  to  go  when  his  liberty  was  restrained. 
So  I  told  him  before  his  resignation.  I  deplore  his 
secession.  I  lament  his  forming  another  denomination 
so  much  identified  with  himself.  It  is  not  an  earnest 
religious  movement,  not  to  be  mentioned  aside  of 
Luther's  or  Wesley's  or  that  of  the  Old  Catholics.  .  . 
I  have  written  Bishop  before  of  my  strong  dis- 
approbation of  Bishop  Cummins's  course.  ..." 

In  the  spring  of  the  year  1874,  an  unwonted  shadow 
fell  across  Dr.  Muhlenberg's  path,  and  was  not  re- 
moved for  several  months.  Though  not  of  robust 
physical  organization,  he  had  hitherto  enjoyed  almost 
unvarying  health.  Sometimes,  while  compassionating 
the  Hospital  patients,  he  would  say,  "  What  do  I  know 
of  sickness  ? "  Now  his  turn  came.  He  was  visited 
with  severe  malarial  illness,  caused,  the  physicians 
thought,  by  the  upturning,  in  the  next  street,  of  a 
great  extent  of  new  ground  for  the  purpose  of  building. 

The  malady  did  not  effectually  give  way  until  late 
in  the  autumn,  and,  at  its  imminence,  it  seemed  as 
though  his  life  would  succumb.  The  most  sorrowful 
part  of  the  visitation  was  the  mental  depression  which 
attended  the  earlier  stage  of  the  disease,  amounting,  at 
times,  almost  to  religious  despondency.  Friends  and 
lovers  mourned  over  the  strange  shrouding  of  his 
bright  nature,  and  it  may  be  that  his  excessive  phys- 


462  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

ical  weakness  was  taken  advantage  of  by  our  great 
adversary  for  extraordinary  buiFe tings.  So  it  seemed 
to  some  tenderly  observing  him.  Like  Bunyan's  Chris- 
tian in  the  Valley  of  the  Shadow  of  Death,  where  the 
saint  could  not  distinguish  the  utterances  of  the  fiend 
from  his  own  voice.  But  at  the  worst  period  of  this 
conflict,  it  may  be  said  of  him  as  of  another  of  God's 
workers,  "His  doubts  were  better  than  most  men's 
certainties."  Nor  was  the  darkness  of  extended  du- 
ration. It  passed  off  long  before  his  recovery  from 
the  bodily  disease,  and  the  clouds  never  returned 
again. 

In  the  summer  of  this  year  of  illness,  and  when  he 
was  beginning  to  feel  a  little  more  like  himself  than 
he  had  done  for  many  previous  weeks,  he  made  a 
single,  and,  as  it  proved,  final  entry  in  his  journal. 
There  is  a  pictorialness  and  pathos  in  this  last  of  his 
written  communings  with  himself,  covering  in  its  large 
and  feeble  characters  six  pages  and  more  of  the  book 
that  claims  for  it  a  place  in  the  story  of  his  life: 

"St.  Lukes  Hospital,  Sunday,  July  12th,  1874.  Ther- 
mometer 80.  In  my  chamber.  Too  weak  to  be  with 
them  in  the  Holy  Communion.  Dr.  C ,  my  pres- 
ent assistant,  conducting  the  services.  I  expected  to 
be  strong  enough  to  take  part  only  in  the  administra- 
tion. But  the  oppressiveness  of  the  weather  and  my 
debility  makes  me  content  with  spiritual  communion. 

The  Sisters  and  M ,  the  good  women  of  the  female 

staff  of  the  house,  are  there  in  true  sisterly  love.  Be 
with  them,  0  Lord.  Give  them  abundantly  of  thy 


LAST    WRITING   IN  JOURNAL.  463 

Spirit,  uniting  them,  more  arid  more,  in  the  fellow- 
ship of  Jesus  Christ.  My  dear  -  — ,  whom  thou  dost 
wonderfully  bless  with  unusual  health  and  strength, 

0  still  uphold  her  with  thine  especial  grace  for  her 
soul.     .     .     .     Shall   I   ever  be  at  the   communion  in 
the  Chapel  again  ?     Feeling  as  I  do,  I  hardly  hope  it. 
'  God's  will  be  done,'  I  can  say  with  perfect  resigna- 
tion.    If  I  pray — '0  spare  me  a  little  that  I  may  re- 
cover my  strength,' — it  is  not  so  much  for  the  pleasure 
of  doing  more  work,  as  that  what  I  have   done  may 
be  purified  by  my  repenting  of  all  there  has  been 
wrong   in   it,    that   I   may  be   fitter   for  my   change, 
'More   washed   in   the   fountain   that    cleanseth   from 
sin.'     Day  by  day,  not  anxious  for  the  morrow,  may 

1  patiently  wait  011  the   Lord,  bearing  or  doing,   as 
he  shall  graciously  appoint.     .     .     .     Now  they  are  re- 
ceiving— I  am  with  them.     May  our  bodies  be  made 
clean  by  his  body  and  our  souls  washed  through  his 
precious  blood,  that  we  may  ever  dwell  in  him,  and 
he  in  us.     Now  they  are  singing  the  'Gloria  in  Ex- 
celsis.'     The  rain  pouring  and  the  thunder  rolling  its 
bass  in  the  heavens. 

'"Thou  only,  0  Christ,  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  art 
most  high  in  the  glory  of  God  the  Father.  Amen.'" 

Immediately  after  this  came  the  following,  in  the 
same  trembling  hand:  "The  last  time  I  discoursed 
in  public  was  in  my  address  before  the  Evangelical 
Alliance,  in  October  1873.  I  don't  expect  ever  to  ap- 
pear in  the  pulpit  again,  and  I  rejoice  that  my  last 
subject  was  what  it  was, — United  Representative  Com- 


464  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

rimnion.  I  am  happy  that  such  were  the  farewell 
words  of  my  public  ministry.  I  was  enabled  to  de- 
liver them  with  more  force  than  had  been  usual  with 
me  for  some  time.  I  hoped  to  conduct  the  first  of 
the  projected  communions,  which  was  to  have  been 
this  spring." 


CHAPTER   XXVII. 

1874-1876. 

Gradual  Convalescence. — Never  resumed  his  Pen. — Gleanings  from  his 
Friend's  Diary. — "Is  it  not  legitimate  ?  " — Visions  of  St.  Johnland. — Peo- 
ple asking  his  Blessing.— Shrinking  from  Compliment. — Fear  of  human 
Praise.— What  People  asked  of  him.— Esteeming  others  better  than  him- 
self.—"Christ  is  all."— A  Conscience  Void  of  Offence.— Last  Use  of 
his  private  Journals.— A  Visit  to  the  General  Convention.— Improved 
Health. — Could  Enjoy  a  Trip  to  Europe. — Counts  his  Residence  in  St. 
Luke's  a  Favor. — Never  such  another  Christian  within  those  Walls. — 
Delight  in  small  Services  for  the  Poor. — "Don't  be  too  sharp  in  find- 
ing them  out." — Notably  Victimized. — Nothing  more  to  take  care  of. 

AFTER  a  summer  of  oppressive  weakness  lie  recovered, 
by  almost  imperceptible  degrees,  a  measure  of  strength, 
so  that  on  Thanksgiving  Day,  for  the  first  time  in  seven 
months,  he  was  able  to  assist  in  the  Chapel  services  and 
other  ministries  of  the  house.  But  he  never  took  up 
his  pen  again,  except  for  a  brief  note,  or  to  write  down 
some  of  the  many  rhymes  with  which,  to  the  end,  he 
amused  himself.  A  diary  of  his  remaining  days  was 
kept  by  a  constant  companion,  without  his  knowledge, 
and  from  its  pages  is  derived  what  further  insight  is 
afforded  of  his  inner  life,  as  well  as  of  the  current  of 
circumstances  in  which  he  was  concerned. 

From  the  beginning  of  his  illness  he  took  much  com- 
fort in  being  at  St.  Luke's.  One  of  the  doctors  kindly 


466  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

expressed  regret  that  he  should  be  sick  in  his  own 
Hospital. 

He  immediately  rejoined,  "Is  it  not  legitimate?" 
adding  later,  "Thanks  be  to  God  that  I  am  here— in 
this  House  of  Mercy,  this  Lazarus's  Palace,  which  I 
was  allowed  to  build  for  poor  sufferers,  and  now  have 
for  a  home  to  die  in.  It's  poetry!" 

As  he  began  to  amend,  used  as  he  was  to  work, 
the  enforced  idleness  of  utter  debility  oppressed  him. 
"  The  dear  Sundays  go  by,"  he  said,  "  but  I'm  not  sick 
in  soul." 

St.  Johnland  was  his  most  frequent  topic  of  conversa- 
tion, and  supplied  many  a  happy  reverie  that  helped 
beguile  the  hours  when  he  was  "loaded  down  with 
weakness."  "I  have  great  joy  in  the  thought  of  St. 
Johnland,"  he  said  one  morning.  "I  have  visions  of  its 
future  which  would  make  another  Retro-prospectus.  I 
see  hundreds  and  hundreds  of  children,  particularly 
poor  girls  who  so  much  need  protection,  employed  in 
different  industries,  especially  horticulture — St.  John- 
land  the  centre  of  Evangelical  Catholicism — a  church 
in  a  garden — '  Evangelical  Catholic '  is  too  good  a  name 
to  be  lost — Tracts,  catechisms,  must  be  published  there 
— That  will  be  work  for  the  children.  The  principles 
of  the  Church  of  the  Testimony  must  be  kept  up.  The 
historic  episcopacy  must  be  preserved,  but  other  evan- 
gelists must  not  be  ignored.  Sisters  of  St.  Johnland 
must  be  simple  deaconesses,  part  and  parcel  of  the  con- 
gregation. I  rejoice  to  think  of  the  Evangelical  Catho- 
lic principles  to  be  disseminated  through  St.  Johnland, 


"ArOT  FROM    THE    OLD   ADAM."  467 

etc.,  etc.  .  .  ."  He  continued  in  this  strain  so  long, 
his  breakfast,  meanwhile  spoiling,  that  the  friend  to 
whom  he  addressed  himself  thought  best  to  call  his 
attention  to  the  fact.  "Yes,  yes,"  he  said,  "I  must 
stop.  I'm  fairly  on  one  of  my  excursions.  Sometimes, 
you  know,  I  want  to  go;  yet  when  I  think  of  St.  John- 
land,  I  would  like  to  live  a  little  longer.  But  as  the 
Lord  will.  The  great  thing  is  to  be  wholly  consecrated 
to  Jesus  Christ." 

At  another  time  he  said:  "St.  Johnland  is  a  great 
pleasure  to  me.  I  have  unusual  comfort  in  thinking 
about  it.  As  this  joy  does  not  come  from  the  old 
Adam  in  me,  it  must  come  from  the  Lord.  And  he, 
who  has  brought  it  into  being  will,  I  trust,  carry  it 
forward.  I  should  like  to  have  seen  it  a  little  farther 
on — but  Moses  had  to  climb  Pisgah  to  see  Canaan, 
and  I  must  climb  the  hill  of  faith  to  see  the  future 
of  St.  Johnland — Accept  St.  Johnland,  0  Lord,  let  the 
foundation  of  it  be  for  thy  glory,  which  it  may  be 
the  more  that  I  shall  be  gone  and  have  no  glory 
in  it." 

His  merry  humor  did  not  fail  to  relieve  the  tedium 
of  his  sick  room,  occasionally.  A  visitor  one  day  re- 
marked that  he  was  looking  much  better.  "Oh,  an 
old  clock  goes  well,  now  and  then,"  he  replied.  Again : 
I  stay  too  long.  I  ought  to  make  my  bow,  but  God 
knows  best."  One  day  feeling  an  access  of  strength, 
he  said: 

"  Lord  build  us  up,  that  we  may  build  for  thee, 
And  to  thy  glory  all  the  building  be." 
30 


468  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS   MUHLENBERG. 

Gentleness,  sweetness,  and  considerateness  pervaded 
all  he  said  and  did.  To  those  nearest  and  dearest  to 
him,  every  little  attention  brought  some  pleasant  ac- 
knowledgment, and  the  grace  at  each  meal  was  a  fresh 
and  original  giving  of  thanks.  For  example:  A  tray 
with  some  refreshment  being  brought  to  him,  he  said, 
"  Thanks,  0  Lord,  for  this  food,  and  for  the  friend  who 
brings  it.  Grant  that  our  friendship  may  be  more  and 
more  consecrated  here,  and  then  consummated  above." 
There  seemed  always  to  be  present  with  him  that 
"hungering  and  thirsting  after  righteousness  whose 
very  longings  are  bliss." 

Many  came  to  ask  his  blessing  in  these  days.  Strong 
men  would  bow  themselves  in  tears  beside  the  couch 
of  "the  best  friend  they  ever  had,"  that  his  hands 
might  be  laid  upon  their  head,  and  mothers  brought 
their  young  children.  One  of  these  said,  "My  little 
daughter  has  never  seen  Dr.  Muhlenberg,  and  I  wish 
so  much  that  she  should  remember  him;  if  he  would 
but  speak  just  a  word  to  her."  Such  requests,  when  he 
was  well  enough,  were  never  denied;  but  if  any  at- 
tempted afterwards  to  speak  of  his  goodness,  etc.,  he 
would,  at  once,  interrupt  them,  very  commonly  by  join- 
ing his  hands  with  theirs  and  proposing  to  say  the 
Lord's  Prayer  together. 

At  another  time,  when  in  his  ordinary  health,  a  rath- 
er grand  lady  asked  in  flattering  words  for  his  bene- 
diction on  her  two  children,  whom  she  presented  a  little 
ostentatiously  as  having  been  blessed  by  the  Pope  of 
Home,  and  the  Emperor  of  some  other  place.  Without 


"/  POSS£SS   NO    SUCH  POWER."  469 

any  departure  from  his  habitual  courtesy,  but  with  a 
look  of  pained  humility,  he  drew  back,  saying,  "  Excuse 
me,  madam.  I  possess  no  such  power." 

He  shrank  instinctively  from  any  unreality,  and  with 
this,  from  effusive  compliment.  He  could  enjoy  honest 
appreciation,  but  usually  seemed  afraid  of  all  human 
praise. 

To  an  acquaintance  visiting  at  St.  Johnland,  who 
was  sincerely  expressing  herself  with  some  warmth  in 
commendation  of  his  undertaking,  he  said: 

"  Stop !  or  else  when  I  get  there,"  pointing  upward, 
"  they'll  shut  the  door  on  me  saying,  '  You've  had  your 
reward.' " 

When  his  health  broke  down,  the  friend,  upon  whom 
devolved  the  burden  of  his  private  correspondence, 
could  not  but  marvel  at  the  extent  and  variety  of  the 
demands  made  upon  his  sympathy  and  benevolence 
from  all  quarters.  A  minute  of  certain  instances  oc- 
curring within  a  very  brief  period  gives  the  follow- 
ing :  "  A  lay  reader  in  the  West  wants  a  commentary, 
selected,  donated,  and  sent  out  to  him — A  missionary 
wants  Dr.  Muhlenberg's  endorsement  and  introduction 
to  a  certain  lady  of  wealth  and  benevolence — A  grand- 
father wants  sympathy  and  advice  for  a  young  grand- 
son— An  editor  wants  the  history  of  a  beneficiary — A 
country  minister  wants  board  found  for,  and  visits 
paid  to,  a  parishioner  of  his  in  the  neighborhood  of  St. 
Luke's — A  stranger  wants  the  Doctor's  autograph,  and 
a  few  words  besides — A  poor  woman  and  eight  chil- 
dren, newly  from  Ireland,  want  help;  their  minister 


470  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS   MUHLENBERG. 

at  the  moment  of  departure,  told  them  to  find  out  a 
clergyman  of  New  York  named  Muhlenberg,  and  they 
would  be  all  right — The  librarian  of  a  literary  insti- 
tution in  a  distant  town  wants  a  valuable  work,  loaned 
by  Dr.  Muhlenberg,  to  be  converted  into  a  gift;"  and 
so  on. 

He  used  to  take  such  demands  as  a  matter  of  course, 
and,  in  his  unfeigned  'humility,  always  esteemed  the 
charitable  labors  of  others  as  far  exceeding  his  own. 
"What  is  my  offering  to  the  Lord,"  he  would  say,  "com- 
pared to  that  of  those  poor-living,  hard-working  city 
missionaries  ?  "  Again,  in  bidding  a  loving  farewell  to 
a  young  brother  bound  for  missionary  service  in  Africa, 
he  said:  "You  are  going  to  the  gold  coast,  but  we 
shall  meet  again  in  the  golden  streets.  Perhaps  yours 
is  the  shorter  way.  Nothing  that  I  have  ever  done  is 
as  great  a  token  of  love  to  Christ,  as  your  going  to 
Africa."  * 

It  was  this  generous  spirit  of  appreciation,  and  the 
encouragement  he  was  ever  ready  to  give  to  another  in 
doing  good,  that  made  him  so  great  an  inspirer  of  work. 
"Thy  gentleness  hath  made  me  great,"  we  all  have 
to  say  to  the  Heavenly  Master  in  any  success,  and 
Dr.  Muhlenberg's  large,  unselfish  sympathy  with  his 
under  workers,  his  "gentleness,"  like  his  Lord's,  often 
made  such,  wonder  at  their  capabilities  of  usefulness. 

While  reading  the  Life  of  Gordon,  by  Newman  Hall, 
he  condemned  himself  that  the  love  of  God  had  not 

*  The  Bev.  W.  Allan  Fair. 


THE   FUTURE   EVERY    THING.  471 

been  more  directly  the  motive  of  his  works  of  benevo- 
lence— "Still,"  he  added,  "I  can  claim  that  love  to  man, 
flowing  from  love  to  God,  has  been  their  impulse." 
Again:  "Thanks  be  to  God  that  I  have  done  what  I 
have.  It  would  not  be  for  the  glory  of  God  for  me  to 
say  that  the  church  and  the  world  are  nothing  the 
better  for  my  having  lived.  That  would  be  to  look  at 
it  as  all  from  myself,  instead  of  from  God  working  in 
me.  By  his  grace  I  am  what  I  am,  and  to  him  be  all 
the  praise ;  I  have  enough  to  ask  pardon  for.  We  can 
not  be  justified  by  our  works,  but  our  works  prove  our 
faith.  ...  It  is  Christ  or  nothing!  T  have  always 
felt  this." 

At  another  time :  "  If  I  am  called  away  now,  I  know 
whom  I  have  believed.  I  am  a  miserable  sinner,  but 
Christ  is  all-sufficient.  He  is  my  all  in  all.  .  .  "We 
are  partakers  of  Christ,  if  we  hold  fast  our  confidence 
....  What  great  things  we  have  to  live  upon !  I 
do  not  say  we  live  up  to  them,  but  we  do  live  upon 
them.  .  .  .  Think  of  the  future — the  future  is  every 
thing  or  nothing.  It  can't  be  nothing,  therefore  it 
must  be  every  thing.  And  so  it  is,  and  Christ  is  All. 
Day  by  day,  I  am  surrendered  to  his  will  whether  liv- 
ing or  dying." 

Later,  and  as  though  he  had  been  searching  him- 
self through  and  through,  he  expressed  devout  thank- 
fulness that  he  had  "a  conscience  void  of  offence  tow- 
ards God  and  man."  ".  .  .  .  I  have  no  secrets  to 
burden  me.  I  have  never  said  in  the  ear  of  man  or 
woman  that  which  might  not  be  proclaimed  on  the 


472  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS   MUHLENBERG. 

house-top.  ...  I  never  knowingly  wronged  a  creat- 
ure of  a  farthing." 

Frequent  illustrations  have  been  given  of  Dr.  Muhl- 
en berg's  habitual  serious  observance  of  the  anniversary 
of  his  birth.  The  recurrence  of  the  day  this  year  (1874) 
was  marked  by  turning  back  for  the  last  time  to  the 
leaves  of  his  earlier  journals.  Possibly  he  found  him- 
self no  longer  able  to  use  these  records  according  to  his 
design  in  keeping  them ;  for  during  the  two  succeeding 
days,  he  gave  what  strength  he  could  command  to  an 
oversight  of  his  private  papers,  and  collecting  the  man- 
uscript journals  into  a  pile,  said  to  the  friend  to  whom 
he  bequeathed  the  priceless  treasures:  "These  are  yours 
— They  are  mine  no  longer.  Take  them,  but  see  they 
fall  into  no  one  else's  hands.  I  hope  you  will  find  some 
grains  of  gold  in  the  sands  of  my  life." 

He  had  so  far  recovered  at  this  time  as  to  enjoy  a 
daily  drive.  On  one  of  these  occasions  (Oct.  31,  1874), 
when  the  General  Convention  was  in  session  in  New 
York,  a  gentleman  who  was  in  the  carriage  with  him, 
proposed,  as  they  passed  St.  John's  Chapel,  that  he 
should  step  in  for  a  moment.  He  did  so,  attended 
by  his  friend,  and  received  a  warm  welcome.  The 
house  suspended  its  business,  and  he  was  conducted 
in  a  sort  of  triumph  to  the  President's  seat.  He  re- 
mained but  a  few  minutes.  Bishop  Whipple,  whom 
he  met  on  leaving  the  church,  urged  him  to  lunch 
with  the  bishops,  but  owing  to  his  feebleness  he  dared 
not  comply. 

This  passing   contact  with  his   brethren,   and  their 


COUNTS   IT  A    HIGH  PRIVILEGE.  473 

spontaneous  kindness,  cheered  him  much  and  disposed 
him  to  other  pleasant  exertions  beyond  the  precincts 
of  the  Hospital,  to  which  he  had  been  so  long  confined. 
He  even  talked  of  the  probable  benefit  of  another  trip 
to  Europe.  "  I  could  enjoy  it,  if  it  were  right," — then, 
suddenly  checking  himself — "Dear  Lord,  forgive  me. 
After  a  long  life  of  favors,  my  cup  running  over,  here 
am  I  planning  fresh  pleasure  for  the  brief  remnant 
of  my  days."  It  was  never  spoken  of  again. 

He  gradually  threw  off  most  of  his  invalid  habits, 
and  resumed  his  meals  with  the  Sisters,  excepting  only 
the  early  breakfast.  In  his  disability  for  the  exercise, 
bodily  and  mental,  of  more  vigorous  days,  he  found 
increased  delight  in  personal  ministrations  to  the  poor, 
whether  patients  of  the  Hospital  or  supplicants  from 
outside.  He  spent  daily  some  hours  in  this  way,  with 
constant  ascriptions  of  praise  for  so  convenient  oppor- 
tunities of  usefulness.  "Thanks  be  to  God,"  he  would 
say,  "for  my  residence  here,  where  I  can  so  easily 
speak  the  word  in  season  to  some  poor  sufferer." 

Again :  "I  consider  it  the  highest  privilege  to  spend 
my  old  age  under  this  roof.  This  ministering  to  the 
sick  is  to  me  a  means  of  special  nearness  to  Christ. 
I  would  not  exchange  my  home  here  for  any 
other,  how  excellent  soever.  ...  I  am  repaid  man- 
ifold any  toil  I  have  ever  had  for  St.  Luke's." 

With  his  venerable  and  saintly  mien,  he  made  a 
striking  picture  as  he  went  about  the  Hospital  in  those 
days.  His  habitual  in-door  dress  was  a  long  black 
wrapper,  broadly  bordered  with  purple,  which,  fitting 


474  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

close  to  the  spare  figure,  set  off  handsomely  his  abun- 
dant white  hair,  or  harmonized  quaintly  with  the  low- 
crowned,  broad-brimmed  hat,  familiar  to  all  who  knew 
him,  which  he  was  accustomed  to  wear  along  the  pas- 
sages in  colder  weather.  His  presence  was  a  benedic- 
tion throughout  the  house,  and  his  ministrations  in  the 
wards  more  and  more  tender  and  spiritual.  "There 
will  never  be  such  another  Christian  within  these 
walls,"  sobbed  a  poor  woman,  as  she  took  grateful 
leave  on  her  recovery — 

"True  prophet,  gentlest  priest,  for  offering 
The  service  of  his  own  great  soul  of  love 
On  altars  not  of  human  hands,  but  woes, 
Consecrate  ever  by  his  Lord's  own  woes." 

The  lowliest  offices  of  love  were  welcomed  as  choice 
opportunities  of  ministering  to  Christ.  After  giving  a 
dinner  to  a  poor  purblind  man,  just  discharged  from 
the  Charity  Hospital,  and  which  he  made  the  latter  eat 
in  his  own  study,  the  maid-servant  met  him  carrying 
the  tray  and  empty  plates  back  to  the  dining-room — 

"  Oh,  Doctor,  Doctor,"  she  exclaimed,  "  why  did  you 
not  call  me  to  get  these  ?  " 

"No,  no,"  was  the  reply,  "I  am  a  servant  in  the 
Lord's  Hotel." 

Often  he  would  take  out  of  a  Sister's  hand  the  bowl 
of  soup  or  plate  of  food — "the  cup  of  cold  water"  so 
often  asked  at  the  Hospital  door  by  one  and  another 
hungry  wayfarer,  saying,  "  Let  me  carry  it.  It  is  my 
joy  to  wait  upon  them."  Thus  were  his  days  filled 


"DON'T  BE    TOO    SHARP."  475 

with  a  multitude  of  small  services,  sweet  with  divine 
affection. 

It  required  a  little  vigilance  on  the  part  of  those 
around  him  to  prevent  a  complete  spoliation  of  his 
wardrobe,  in  his  unwillingness  to  retain  a  garment  for 
himself  that  would  serve  some  poor  needy  brother. 
Occasionally,  it  was  thought,  these  gifts  did  not  go 
to  the  most  deserving  recipients,  and  the  liberty  was 
taken  of  gently  intimating  that,  in  one  or  two  cases, 
he  had  been  imposed  upon.  He  answered  meekly,  "  I 
am  not  so  much  imposed  upon  as  you  think;  but,  it 
is  the  goodness  of  God  that  leads  men  to  repentance, 
and  I  hope  by  being  kind  to  these  people  to  do  their 
souls  good."  He  probably  never  gave  temporal  aid 
without  a  word  of  spiritual  counsel. 

"But  if  you  give  away  so  bountifully,"  a  friend  re- 
marked, "you  will  have  nothing  at  all  for  yourself." 

"  Then  I  shall  be  the  more  like  my  Master ! " 

At  length,  these  outside  applicants  growing  too  nu- 
merous for  his  personal  attention,  he  was  persuaded  to 
accept  the  assistance  of  the  chaplain  of  the  Hospital  in 
sifting  some  of  the  stories.  The  latter,  being  on  one 
occasion  summoned  from  his  company  to  see  some 
poor  persons,  Dr.  Muhlenberg  called  him  back  for  a 

moment  and  naively  said,  "Don't  be  too  sharp,  J , 

in  finding  them  out;"  adding  solemnly,  "if  thou,  Lord, 
should'st  be  extreme  to  mark  what  is  done  amiss — 
0  Lord,  who  may  abide  it?" 

In  a  certain  instance,  however,  he  was  notably  vic- 
timized, and  his  bearing  throughout  was  so  charac- 


476  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

teristic,  the  story  must  not  be  left  untold.  Keturning 
from  his  drive  on  a  wintry  afternoon,  he  found  that 
a  young  man,  whom,  on  the  recommendation  of  a  cer- 
tain benevolent  association,  he  had  two  days  before 
taken  into  the  house  as  office  boy,  had  absconded 
while  he  was  absent,  carrying  with  him  Dr.  Muhlen- 
berg's  gold  watch,  a  recent  birthday  gift,  an  antique 
silver  snuff-box  brought  by  a  friend  from  abroad,  and 
a  pair  of  gold  spectacles  which  had  belonged  to  his 
mother.  ...  It  was  a  robbery  of  peculiar  aggra- 
vation. The  youth  had  told  a  most  piteous  story  of 
his  misfortunes;  and  Dr.  Muhlenberg,  taking  him  into 
his  study,  talked  long  and  earnestly  with  him,  seek- 
ing to  comfort  him,  and  treating  him  lovingly  as  a 
father.  He  even  gave  him  his  own  over-shoes,  lest, 
being  from  a  warm  climate — he  was  a  Virginian — the 
snow  that  then  lay  thick  on  the  ground  should  give 
him  cold  in  doing  his  errands.  It  was  this  care  and 
kindness  which  enabled  the  fellow  to  see  the  little  val- 
uables, and  so  strip  his  benefactor  of  every  thing  of  the 
sort  which  he  possessed.  Dr.  Muhlenberg's  treatment 
of  the  theft  was  striking.  First  he  expressed  his  grief 
that  the  boy  should  be  so  wicked,  then  his  satisfac- 
tion that  it  was  so  clear  who  was  the  culprit,  next, 
with  the  utmost  sweetness,  he  put  on  a  very  common 
pair  of  iron-rimmed  glasses  that  were  found  for  him, 
saying:  "Well!  now  I  haven't  another  earthly  thing 
to  take  care  of,"  adjusting  them  with  smiling  satis- 
faction, as  though  he  had  come  into  a  possession. 
Later  he  said  with  a  sigh:  "As  I  talked  with  the; 


RARE   AND   NOBLE.  477 

lad,  the  words,  '  I  was  a  stranger  and  ye  took  me  in,' 
came  to  my  mind,  and  as  a  boy  was  wanted  in  the 
office,  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  I  took  him  in.  I  hope 
some  of  the  things  I  said  may  yet  come  back  to  him 
and  do  him  good."  In  all  like  occurrences  he  ever 
showed  himself  that  rare  and  noble  sort  of  Christian 
who,  while  hating  the  sin,  loves  the  poor  sinner,  and 
would  pour  himself  out  to  save  him. 


CHAPTER   XXVIII. 

1876-1877. 

Seldom  at  St.  Johnland. — Delight  in  sheltering  Children  there. — Dr.  Ad- 
ams's Lunch  Party. — Another  "I  would  not  live  alway." — Fourscore 
not  Labor  and  Sorrow. — The  Youth  of  the  Angels. — The  right  Side 
of  Seventy. — Does  not  expect  to  lie  down  in  the  Dust. — The  Festival 
of  the  Ascension. — Happy  Gathering  at  St.  Johnland. — The  Chapel 
Service. — The  Founder's  Well. — Muhlenberg  Endowment. — Eightieth 
Birthday. — "Let  me  die  in  my  Nest." 

IN  these  latter  years  he  saw  his  dear  St.  John- 
land  very  seldom.  Many  months  intervened  between 
his  visits;  its  local  affairs  being  administered  mainly 
through  his  assistants.  But  he  kept  himself  well  in- 
formed as  to  all  that  was  going  on,  and  took  great 
interest  in  sending  down  poor  children  for  a  share  in 
the  benefits  of  the  place.  Two  instances  of  the  kind 
occurred  at  this  time  iri  quick  succession.  A  poor  con- 
sumptive widow  in  the  Hospital  was  near  her  end, 
and  wanted  to  see  her  little  boys.  They  were  brought 
late  one  evening,  by  their  uncle,  the  poor  mother's 
brother  and  only  relative,  who  was  so  intoxicated  that 
Dr.  Muhlenberg  encountering  him  as  he  was  about 
to  take  back  the  children,  and  fearing  for  their  safety — 
they  were  but  four  and  six  years  old — bade  him  leave 
them  at  the  Hospital,  and  come  back  in  the  morning 


"DEATH   OF    THE   FLOWERS."  479 

to  take  care  of  them.  The  man  was  arrested  and 
sent  to  the  Penitentiary,  and  the  poor  mother  died. 
Then  the  little  orphans  were  tenderly  gathered  to  the 
good  Pastor's  breast,  and  laying  a  hand  on  either  flaxen 
head,  he  told  them,  as  if  it  were  a  kingdom  he  was 
promising  them,  "You  shall  go  to  St.  Johnland,  my 
dear  children ! "  The  others  were  a  family  of  four, 
deprived  in  a  single  day  of  both  parents;  healthy, 
well-reared  little  ones,  but  being  recent  immigrants, 
without  a  friend  to  shelter  them  in  their  sudden  or- 
phanage, until  Dr.  Muhlenberg  took  them  in.  Opportu- 
nities such  as  these  would  enliven  his  spirits  for  hours. 
In  the  month  of  February  (1876)  he  accepted  an  in- 
vitation to  a  rather  remarkable  lunch  party.  The  Rev. 
Dr.  Adams  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  invited  him, 
with  a  few  other  octogenarian  friends,  to  meet  a  ven- 
erable gentleman  who,  bright  and  well  in  his  nine- 
tieth year,  was  then  expected  on  a  visit.  Among 
those  present,  were  the  poet  Bryant,  Mr.  Peter  Cooper, 
Mr.  James  Brown,  the  Eev.  Dr.  Calhoun  of  Syria,  and 
others.  As  Dr.  Muhlenberg  exchanged  greetings  with 
Mr.  Bryant,  he  playfully  quoted  with  mock  ruefulness 
two  lines  from  the  poet's  "Death  of  the  Flowers:" 

"  The  melancholy  days  are  come,  the  saddest  of  the  year, 
Of  wailing  winds,  and  naked  woods,  and  meadows  brown  and  sere." 

Mr.  Bryant  laughed,  enjoying  the  application. 

"  Coming  to  the  table,"  wrote  Dr.  Adams  in  his  men- 
tion of  the  occasion,  "I  requested  Dr.  Muhlenberg  to 
ask  a  blessing,  and  taking  from  his  pocket  a  slip  of  pa- 


480  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

per,  which  at  this  moment  lies  before  me  in  his  own 
handwriting,  he  read  these  lines: 

"  'Solemn  thanks  be  our  grace,  for  the  years  that  are  past, 
"With  their  blessings  untold,  and  though  this  be  our  last, 
Yet,  joyful  our  trust  that  thro'  Christ  'twill  be  given, 
All  here  meet  again,  at  his  table  in  heaven.' 

"  4Amen,'  *  Amen,'  was  the  hearty  response  from  that 
bright,  beautiful,  and  cheerful  group." 

Dr.  Muhlenberg  and  Dr.  Adams  loved  each  other. 
"More  than  once,"  said  the  latter,  "I  have  said  to  my 
family,  when  returning  from  some  interview  with  him, 
in  which  he  had  honored  me  with  a  kiss,  that  I  felt  as 
if  the  Apostle  John  had  embraced  me,  and  repeated  in 
my  ear  some  words  which  had  been  whispered  to  him 
by  the  Master  on  whose  bosom  he  had  leaned  at  the 
supper." 

In  the  same  month  with  the  lunch  party  at  Dr. 
Adams's,  Dr.  Muhlenberg  completed  another  "I  would 
not  live  alway,"  which  is  thus  inscribed :  '"I  would 
not  live  alway' — A  version  written  in  illness  in  1874. 
Kevised  at  this  time  and  dedicated  to  my  beloved 
friend,  Adam  Nome,  for  his  eightieth  birthday. 

"I  would  not  live  alway— I  ask  not  to  stay, 
For  nought  but  to  lengthen  the  term  of  the  way; 
Nay,  fondly  I've  hoped,  when  my  work  days  were  done, 
Then,  soon  and  undim'd,  would  go  down  my  life's  sun. 

"But,  if  other  my  lot,  and  I'm  destined  to  wait 
Thro'  suffering  and  weakness  in  useless  estate, 
Till  I  gain  my  release,  gracious  Lord  keep  me  still, 
Unmurmuring,  resigned,  to  thy  Fatherly  will. 


AN  EASTER    TALK.  481 

"Yea,  thus  let  it  be,  so  that  thereby  I  grow 
More  meet  for  his  presence  to  whom  I  would  go, 
More  patient,  more  loving,  more  quiet  within, 
Throughly  washed  in  the  Fountain  that  cleanseth  from  sin. 

"So  the  days  of  my  tarrying  on  to  their  end, 
Bringing  forth  what  they  may,  all  in  praise  I  would  spend — 
Then,  no  cloud  on  my  faith,  when  called  for  I'd  leave, 
Calm  in  prayer,   'Lord  Jesus,  my  spirit  receive.' 

"But  inside  the  veil— How,  how  is  it  there? 
Dare  we  ask  for  some  sight,  or  some  sound  to  declare, 
What  the  blessed  are  doing — afar  or  anear  ? 
Oh !  but  for  a  whisper,  the  darkness  to  cheer ! 

"Yet,  why  aught  of  darkness?    Light,  light  enough  this, 
The  Paradise  life — it  can  be  only  bliss — 
And  whatever  its  kind,  or  where'er  its  realm  lies, 
The  Saviour  its  glory,  the  Sun  of  its  skies." 

He  would  never  allow  that  there  was  any  thing 
woeful  or  forlorn  in  Christian  old  age.  "My  fourscore 
years  are  not  labor  and  sorrow,  I  am  sure,  I  can  thank- 
fully say ; "  alluding  to  the  Psalm  in  the  burial  ser- 
vice. On  Easter  Day,  discoursing  on  the  words,  "  And 
entering  into  the  sepulchre  they  saw  a  young  man  sit- 
ting on  the  right  side,  clothed  in  a  long  white  gar- 
ment," he  broke  into  one  of  those  instant,  natural 
applications  of  the  Gospel,  so  common  with  him,  and 
so  impressive.  "A  young  man  —  an  angel  —  and  who 
ever  heard  of  an  old  angel?  No,  nor  (looking  at  the 
wan,  pale  faces  of  the  patients  around  him)  a  sick 
or  paralyzed  angel.  The  angels  have  perpetual  youth 
and  health,  that  belongs  to  life  and  immortality,  and 


482  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

righteousness  is  immortal.  Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  says 
of  us  in  the  resurrection  kingdom,  'Neither  can  they 
die  any  more,  but  are  equal  to  the  angels.'  .  .  ." 

"Did  you  ever  hear  any  thing  so  beautiful?"  said 
a  poor,  aged,  trembling  one,  after  the  Chapel  service. 
"And  how  happy  Dr.  Muhlenberg  looked — -just  like  an 
angel  himself." 

"We're  both  a  good  way  on  the  wrong  side  of  sev- 
enty," a  worthy  old  friend  observed  to  him  one  day 
as  they  exchanged  greetings. 

"  The  wrong  side ! "  exclaimed  Dr.  Muhlenberg,  "  siire- 
ly  it  is  the  right  side,  for  it  is  the  side  nearest  heaven." 

He  manifestly  enjoyed  what  one  has  called  "The 
gran'  delicht  o'  seein'  auld  age  rin  hirplin  awa'  frae 
the  face  o'  the  Ancient  o'  Days."*  A  brother  clergy- 
man read  at  evening  service  the  formula  for  Family 
Prayer  in  the  Prayer  Book  where  the  petition  occurs, 
"  make  us  mindful  of  the  time  when  we  shall  lie  down 

in  the  dust."     "  A ,  do  you  ever  expect  to  lie  down 

in  the  dust?"  he  inquired  of  his  friend  afterwards. 
"  I  know  /  do  not."  He  occasionally  used  these  morn- 
ing and  evening  prayers  in  the  family,  but  invariably 
changed  the  petition  alluded  to,  and  also  one  in  the 
morning  prayer,  regarding  the  remembrance  of  "the 
strict  account  to  be  given  of  our  thoughts,  words,  and 
actions,  at  the  last  day,  when,  according  to  the  deeds 
done  in  the  body,  we  shall  be  eternally  rewarded  or 
punished  by  him  who  is  appointed,"  etc. — He  always 

*  MacDonald. 


A    DAY  AT   ST.    JOHNLAND.  483 

substituted  the  latter  by  these  words :  "  May  we  so 
know  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  now,  as  our  Saviour,  that 
we  may  not  then  fear  to  meet  him  as  our  Judge." 

The  Festival  of  the  Ascension  this  year  was  a  marked 
day.  He  spent  it  at  St.  Johnland,  where  about  a  hun- 
dred ladies  and  gentlemen  from  the  city  met  him  by 
special  invitation  of  the  Trustees,  for  the  purpose  of 
acquainting  themselves  with  the  work ;  thus  far,  owing 
to  its  remoteness,  little  personally  known.  Few  who 
were  present  will  forget  the  hallowed  charm  of  that 
day.  The  picture  of  the  venerable  Founder  seated 
under  the  trees  in  the  midst  of  the  groups  of  chil- 
dren provided  for  by  his  care,  as  he  led  them  in  sing- 
ing a  Centennial  song,  an  adaptation  by  his  own  hand 
of  his  President's  Hymn;  or,  better  still,  the  glowing 
Ascension  Day  service  in  the  little  cross-surmounted 
Church,  which  followed  after,  when  for  a  few  moments 
he  held  all  hearts  as  he  spoke  on  what  to  him  was  the 
theme  of  themes — "Brotherhood  in  Christ,"  from  the 
words  of  our  Lord,  "Go  tell  my  brethren,  I  ascend  to 
my  Father  and  your  Father,  my  God  and  your  God." 
He  was  not  feeling  as  strong  as  usual,  but  there  was 
a  pathos  in  his  somewhat  broken  earnestness,  and  in 
the  meekness  with  which  he  asked  that,  if  he  had  said 
aught  amiss  or  omitted  aught  that  he  should  have 
said  they  would  pardon  him,  which  was  more  elo- 
quent, under  the  circumstances,  than  any  grander  dis- 
course. He  himself  was  very  happy.  It  cheered  him 
that  his  guests  were  so  evidently  impressed  with  his 

St.  Johnland.     It  was  a  young  child  to  have  so  aged 
31 


484  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

a  father,  and  he  did  what  he  could  that  day  to  be- 
speak friends  and  helpers  against  he  should  leave  it. 
This  tender  anxiety  gave  a  deepened  interest  to  every 
expression  of  appreciation  that  met  his  ear,  and  he 
watched,  with  pure  and  grateful  pleasure,  the  impres- 
sion made  upon  the  company  at  large,  by  the  primi- 
tive simplicity  and  rural  beauty  of  the  place.  The 
weather  was  perfect ;  the  atmosphere  fresh  and  pearly, 
and  the  great  St.  Johnland  flag,  never,  in  those  days, 
raised  except  when  the  Founder  was  in  residence, 
floated  its  Johannean  symbols  as  a  consecration  of 
the  whole. 

It  was  during  this  visit  that  the  Founder's  Well 
came  into  being.  Dr.  Muhlenberg,  as  if  under  an  in- 
spiration, suddenly  said,  "Come,  let  us  dig  a  well  for 
the  cottages."  Eeaching  the  place,  he  chose  the  spot 
where,  eventually,  excellent  water  was  found,  and 
having  driven  in  a  stake  to  guide  the  diggers,  and 
uttered  a  text  from  St.  John's  Gospel,  he  uncovered 
his  head  and  breathed  a  fervent  prayer,  and  a  father's 
blessing  on  the  place.  The  well  has  since  been  very 
handsomely  housed  as  a  Tribute  of  Kespect  to  the 
Founder;  the  legend  he  chose,  heavily  engraved  in 
brass,  forming  the  frieze,  thus:  "Jesus  said,  Whoso- 
ever drinketh  of  this  water  shall  thirst  again,  but 
whosoever  drinketh  of  the  water  that  I  shall  give  him 
shall  never  thirst." 

In  the  month  of  September  following,  he  was  per- 
suaded, though  reluctantly,  to  go  again  to  St.  John- 
land.  For  some  time  previous,  a  measure  had  been 


HIS  EIGHTIETH  BIRTHDAY.  485 

on  foot  for  signalizing  his  eightieth  birthday,  by  the 
presentation  of  a  substantial  sum  ($20.000),  as  the 
beginning  of  a  "Muhlenberg  Endowment"  for  that 
work.  It  was  well  understood  that  no  expensive 
gift  to  himself  would  be  acceptable  to  his  disinter- 
estedness and  humility,  but  such  an  advancement  of 
his  latest  work  could  be  only  a  joy.  The  subscrip- 
tions were  made  with  the  utmost  privacy,  and  only 
among  choice  personal  friends.  As  the  time  drew 
near  for  the  offering,  more  than  one  thoughtful  con- 
tributor, fearing  the  effect  of  any  sudden  surprise  on 
one  so  feeble,  suggested  that  he  should  receive  some 
intimation  of  what  was  in  prospect. 

There  was  much  talk  at  the  time  about  the  Bryant 
vase,  recently  presented  to  the  poet  at  his  fourthscore 
anniversary,  and  it  was  easy  to  lead  Dr.  Muhlenberg's 
mind  to  his  own  approaching  fete. 

"Your  eightieth  birthday  must  be  honored  too." 

"Well,"  he  replied  simply,  "people  might  give  me  a 
thousand  dollars  for  St.  Johnland.  I  should  like  that." 

"  What  would  you  say  to  five  or  ten  thousand  dollars 
for  St.  Johnland?" 

"Ah!"  he  said,  turning  away,  "that  is  not  to  be 
thought  of; "  and  although  the  intimation  was  repeated 
later,  he  did  not  accept  the  possibility. 

It  was  desired  that  the  offering  should  be  presented 
at  St.  Johnland,  and  he  was  induced  to  make  the 
journey  the  evening  before,  so  that  he  might  be  rested 
for  the  demands  of  the  morrow.  He  rose  bright  and 
well  the  next  morning  at  an  early  hour,  and  the  first 


486  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

event  of  the  day  was  his  acceptance,  while  yet  in  his 
chamber,  of  this  grateful  tribute.  He  was  left  alone 
with  his  emotions  for  a  while,  then  a  choir  of  voices 
broke  out  in  song  on  the  green  sward  northward  of 
the  house.  Young  and  old  had  gathered  below  his 
windows  at  break  of  day,  to  wish  him  joy  of  his  eighty 
years,  in  the  native  birthday  lyric  sacred  to  his  anni- 
versary. He  threw  up  the  sash  and  looked  out.  It 
was  a  beautiful  sight.  Every  upturned  face  standing 
a  little  aslant  that  they  might  see  him  the  better,  was 
illumined  by  the  newly  risen  sun,  and  beaming  also 
with  the  pleasure  of  his  presence. 

Leaning  forward  a  little,  that  he  might  take  in  the 
whole,  his  countenance  irradiated  with  holy  love,  and 
his  arms  stretched  out  and  over  them  in  unspoken 
benediction,  he  stood  there  awaiting  the  termination 
of  their  singing.  Scarcely  had  the  last  word  died 
upon  their  lips,  when  his  own  voice,  strong  and  sono- 
rous led  them  in  "Praise  God  from  whom  all  bless- 
ings flow,"  then  came  the  Lord's  Prayer  in  heartiest 
accord,  followed  by  a  fervent,  soul-breathing  benedic- 
tion, after  which  they  dispersed  for  breakfast  in  the 
several  families ;  and  every  household  later  had  a  brief, 
sweet  visit  from  him. 

Dinner-time  brought  a  gathering  of  another  kind. 
About  a  dozen  sons  of  an  earlier  day  came  down  from 
the  city  to  wish  their  dear  father  joy,  between  the 
morning  and  afternoon  trains.  Three  of  them  were 
organists,  and  it  being  Saturday  they  had  to  return 
for  the  next  day's  duties.  It  was  a  genial,  joyous 


IN  HIS   ELEMENT.  487 

company.  There  were  rich,  well-trained  voices  among 
them,  and  for  "  grace  before  meat,"  they  chanted  beau- 
tifully the  "  Gloria  in  Excelsis."  Dr.  Muhlenberg  was 
in  his  element,  thus  surrounded  by  his  boys.  His 
spirits  rose  unusually. 

He  said  this  was  one  of  his  happiest  birthdays,  and 
told  them  at  length  the  story  of  the  earlier  part  of 
the  day,  of  "  the  Muhlenberg  Endowment,"  and  of  the 
"Founder's  Well."  It  was  an  enjoyable,  if  not  very 
orderly,  meal.  In  the  midst  of  it  the  little  ones  of 
the  "Children's  Home"  came  pattering  along  the  piazza 
under  the  dining-room  windows,  and  sang  their  inno- 
cent congratulations. 

The  young  men  rushed  outside  and  brought  in  a 
troop  of  the  pretty  little  creatures.  Then  there  had 
to  be  hurrying  for  the  train,  and  amidst  so  much  happy 
interruption,  dinner  was  but  half  over  when  it  was 
time  to  go.  The  place  abounds  in  fruit  and  flowers. 
A  huge  pyramid  of  these,  intermingled,  had  been  im- 
provised, under  Dr.  Muhlenberg's  direction,  as  a  centre- 
piece for  the  dinner-table.  He  pulled  it  all  apart,  as 
the  guests  made  their  farewells,  and  sent  them  off 
laden  with  the  spoils,  for  refreshment  on  the  road. 

In  the  afternoon  came  the  ordinary  festivities  of  the 
Founder's  birthday  for  the  whole  settlement,  in  the 
fine  old  grove.  It  was  thought  that  the  previous 
exertions  of  the  day  would  make  him  unable  to  be 
among  his  children  there;  but  in  the  midst  of  their 
hilarity,  some  one  joyfully  exclaimed,  "Why,  there's 
Dr.  Muhlenberg." 


488  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS   MUHLENBERG. 

He  had  walked  up  alone  from  the  house,  and  was 
pausing  a  moment  on  the  brow  of  the  hill  to  gaze 
upon  the  scene.  His  slender  form  stood  out  strongly 
against  the  golden  autumnal  sky,  the  soft  rich  hues 
of  which  were  all  in  harmony  with  the  ripe  saintli- 
ness  of  his  well-nigh  perfected  spirit.  He  joined  the 
holiday-makers,  and  all  went  as  merrily  as  if  that  were 
not  the  last  time  he  and  his  St.  Johnlanders  would  ever 
be  together  again  upon  earth.  But  it  was  the  last. 
Nor  had  he  been  unmindful  that  it  might  even  be  so, 
though  he  would  cast  no  gloom  over  their  joy  by  in- 
timating it. 

Eeturning  to  the  city,  as  he  reached  the  Hospital 
gate,  he  sighed  out,  in  one  of  those  rhymings  habitual 
with  him: 

"Having  now  done  my  best, 
Let  me  die  in  my  nest, 
Trusting  God  for  the  rest." 

"Has  it  been  so  great  an  effort?"  asked  his  friend. 
"Kather,"  was  all  the  reply. 


CHAPTER   XXIX. 

1876-1877. 

The  Shadows  lengthen.— Joy  and  Peace. — Effect  of  Birthday  Tribute. — 
Public  Esteem. — "From  Tweed  to  Dr.  Muhlenberg." — His  Latest  La- 
bors.— Last  Visit  to  his  Sister. — Washington's  Birthday. — Sudden  Illness. 
— Six  Weeks  of  Trial. — Died  as  he  had  Lived. — Simplicity  of  Burial. — 
The  Arrival  at  St.  Johnland. — Impression  on  Bishop  Kerfoot. — A  No- 
ble Pageant.  —  His  Grave-stone.  —  The  Contributors.  —  St.  Johnland 
Cemetery. 

THROUGHOUT  the  year  1876  he  continued  in  comfort- 
able health,  but  the  evening  shadows  were  evidently 
lengthening.  The  long,  beautiful  day  was  mellowing 
towards  sunset,  and  with  an  unclouded  "joy  and  peace 
in  believing"  that  made  it  the  very  fruition  of  the 
promise:  "With  long  life  will  I  satisfy  him  and  show 
him  my  salvation." 

The  fatigue  and  excitement  of  the  birthday  celebra- 
tion left. no  ill  effects;  and  all  that  the  founders  of  the 
Muhlenberg  Endowment  looked  for,  at  the  time,  in 
their  tribute,  was  abundantly  realized;  for  he  saw  in 
this  combined  and  generous  gift  a  token  and  pledge 
that  St.  Johnland  would  be  provided  for  when  it  should 
no  longer  have  a  Father's  care  and  protection. 

Its  Founder's  eightieth  year  was  still  more  munifi- 
cently signalized  in  relation  to  St.  Luke's  Hospital 


490  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

which  received  during  that  twelve  months,  the  quite 
extraordinary  addition  to  its  permanent  fund  of  a  hun- 
dred and  thirteen  thousand  dollars.*  A  new  song  of 
thanksgiving  was  put  into  the  mouth  of  the  aged  saint. 

The  birthday  gift  for  St.  Johnland  as  it  became  pub- 
licly known  brought  him  pleasure  and  eiilivenment  in 
visits  and  letters  of  congratulation  from  friends  far  and 
near,  and  even  from  strangers.  A  person  in  California, 
now  prosperous,  but  first  helped  by  Dr.  Muhlenberg  to 
extricate  himself  from  pecuniary  distress — though  the 
latter  had  no  memory  of  so  aiding  him — wrote  from 
that  distance  of  his  glad  and  loving  sympathy  in  the 
honor  shown  his  former  benefactor;  an  account  of 
which  he  had  seen  in  the  daily  papers. 

There  were  tokens  also,  at  this  time,  of  the  place  he 
occupied  in  the  heart  and  mind  of  the  community  at 
large,  which  are  remarkable  and  exceptional,  taking 
into  account  his  retiring  and  unworldly  habits.  Since 
his  humility  can  no  longer  be  pained  by  it,  we  may 
venture  to  record  two  or  three  of  these  as  an  illustra- 
tion. In  his  public  acknowledgment  of  the  "Bryant 
Vase,"  the  poet,  speaking  of  the  far-reaching  goodness 
of  God,  said,  as  if  instancing  the  extremes  of  human 
character,  "From  Tweed  to  Dr.  Muhlenberg."  Again: 
"A  million  of  inhabitants  and  only  one  Dr.  Muhlen- 
berg," was  quoted  by  the  author  of  the  "  Century  of 
Nursing";  and  very  striking  also  were  some  closing 
words  in  one  of  the  daily  journals  which,  noticing, 

*  This  amount  was  the  gift  of  living  persons,  no  legacy  or  bequest 
is  included  in  it. 


A    PARTING.  491 

under  the  title  of  "A  Blameless  Life,"  the  completion 
of  his  eightieth  year,  after  outlining  his  unselfish  labors 
says:  "It  behooves  even  those  of  us  who  are  most 
doubtful  about  the  dogmas,  and  most  impatient  of  the 
exclusive  pretensions  of  the  churches,  to  be  very  chary 
of  dismissing  as  '  effete '  an  institution  which  is  still  ca- 
pable of  giving  their  full  scope  to  the  powers  for  well- 
doing of  such  an  ornament  to  the  human  race  as  Dr. 
Muhlenberg." 

The  year  1877  began  brightly  for  him.  There  was  a 
little  revival  of  physical  strength,  and  he  was  able  to 
do  more  work  among  the  patients  and  in  the  Chapel, 
arid  enjoyed  it.  He  had  not  been  as  animated  and  in- 
teresting in  the  Chapel  service  for  a  long  while,  as  he 
was  the  last  time  his  voice  was  ever  heard  there.  This 
was  at  evening  prayer  on  Wednesday,  February  21st. 
The  whole  of  that  day  was  well  filled  up.  The  morning 
among  the  patients  and  other  poor:  the  afternoon  in 
calls  upon  two  sick  friends  and  a  long  visit  to  his  sister, 
then  a  confirmed  invalid.  He  was  accompanied  on  the 
occasion  by  his  Sister  friend,  on  whom,  from  the  period 
of  his  illness  in  1874,  he  had  grown  to  depend  for  con- 
stant attendance  and  companionship. 

Little  did  any  present  imagine  that  it  was  the  last 
time  this  aged  brother  and  sister  were  to  meet  in  the 
flesh;  but  had  it  been  known,  the  parting  could  not 
have  been  more  perfect.  He  had  terminated  other 
visits  to  Mrs.  Rogers  with  prayer  and  blessing,  but 
what  so  quickly  followed,  has  invested  the  memory  of 
that  farewell  with  a  beauty  and  solemnity  of  its  own. 


492  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS   MUHLENBERG. 

Kising  to  go,  he  placed  his  friend's  hand  in  that  of  his 
sister  and  with  his  own  hands  enfolding  both  theirs, 
said:  "Let  us  pray."  The  Lord's  Prayer  was  repeated 
in  unison,  as  the  three  stood  together,  and  was  followed 
by  his  fervent  supplications  for  grace  to  the  end  and  by 
praiseful  joyous  aspiration  of  the  everlasting  reunion. 
Then  he  embraced  his  sister  lovingly,  and  as  they  sepa- 
rated, lifted  his  hands,  vibrating  in  benediction,  and 
with  the  sweetest  of  parting  looks  at  her,  left  the  room. 
Neither  in  life  nor  after  death  did  she  see  his  face  again. 
Three  days  before  this,  he  wrote  his  last  rhymes. 
Perhaps  he  had  a  premonition  that  such  they  would 
be,  for  they  were  found,  after  he  had  gone,  laid  in 
his  writing-drawer,  dated  and  signed,  quite  contrary 
to  his  wonted  negligence  in  such  matters.  They  have 
an  interest  in  that  they  are  the  last  trembling  touches 
of  his  broken  lyre,  still  giving  forth  clearly  and  dis- 
tinctly the  keynote  of  his  life's  faith: 

"Glad  I  am,  thou  knowest,  Lord, 
When  I  can  to  do  the  Brother, 
Mindful  of  thy  parting  word: 

'Loving  me,  love  one  another.' 
But  withal,  my  sin,  my  sin. 
Oh !  thy  blood  to  cleanse  within, 
Heart,  and  mind,  and  soul,  I  pray ! 
Now,  and  for  the  last  great  day. 

" Feb.  18,  '77.     W.  A.  M." 

He  busied  himself  also  on  the  same  day  about  pro- 
viding the  accustomed  household  treat  for  Washing- 
ton's Birthday,  on  the  morrow.  He  was  always  care- 


NOTHING   DISCORDANT.  493 

ful  to  pay  due  honor  to  the  Father  of  his  country;  and 
the  next  morning,  at  breakfast,  more  mindful  than 
those  around  him  of  the  anniversary,  he  did  not  forget 
to  add  to  his  accustomed  grace,  "  and  may  God  preserve 
the  commonwealth."  He  seemed  in  unusual  health  and 
spirits  at  that  meal,  and  no  one  observing  him  dreamed 
that  the  day  begun  so  cheerily  in  the  Hospital  family 
was  to  close  in  a  deeper  gloom  than  will  ever  again 
settle  upon  that  house. 

"  We  know  how  Dr.  Muhlenberg  lived,"  said  one  of 
his  college  sons,  "tell  us  how  such  a  man  died."  To 
which  it  would  be  as  true  as  it  is  comprehensive  to 
reply,  "He  died  as  he  lived."  Never  was  a  symmet- 
rical, holy  life  more  perfectly  rounded  off.  The  record 
of  the  six  weeks  of  illness  preceding  his  release,  fully 
and  carefully  kept,  reveals  throughout,  a  wonderful 
harmony  of  word  and  action,  with  all  that  the  strong 
man  in  his  strength  ever  presented  for  our  love  and 
admiration.  From  first  to  last  of  these  days,  there  was 
nothing  discordant  or  incongruous. 

Keverence  and  affection  shrink  from  laying  open  the 
sacred  seclusion  of  the  sick  room ;  but  Dr.  Muhlenberg 
fills  a  place  in  the  hearts  of  his  fellow  Christians  and 
fellow  citizens  which  entitles  them  to  see  something 
of  the  closing  scenes  of  his  life ;  and  the  more  striking 
particulars  may  not  be  withheld. 

It  was  Washington's  Birthday,  as  already  said.  Be- 
ing a  public  holiday  there  were  many  persons  coming 
and  going  during  the  morning,  and  an  extraordinary 
demand  was  made  upon  the  attention  of  all  the  officials 


494  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

of  the  institution.  The  beloved  Pastor  took  only  too  full 
a  share  in  the  work,  listening  to  poor  people  at  the  door, 
and  accompanying  visitors  over  the  building,  without 
its  being  perceived,  amid  the  throng  of  business,  that 
he  was  doing  too  much;  nor,  as  afterwards  appeared, 
that  he  had  not  been  quite  himself  from  eleven  o'clock. 
The  too  late  discovery  of  this,  gave  exquisite  pain ;  yet 
he  thus  fell  "  with  his  armor  on,"  as  he  had  often  ex- 
pressed the  wish  he  might  do.  At  one  o'clock,  a  terri- 
ble convulsion  struck  him  down,  never  again  to  take 
the  field. 

He  was  insensible  for  more  than  an  hour,  with  fear- 
fully violent  jactations.  The  best  medical  aid  was 
in  attendance,  and  all  that  was  possible  for  his  relief 
was  done.  As  the  convulsive  motions  subsided,  his 
consciousness  gradually  returned.  He  asked  for  his 
Sister  friend,  the  thirty  years'  companion  of  his  labors. 
She  was  quickly  at  his  side.  Though  suffering  much 
pain,  his  mind  soon  became  perfectly  clear,  and  in  the 
reaction  that  had  then  set  in,  he  began  to  talk  in  almost 
his  usual  tones.  He  was  never  again  able  to  express 
himself  as  strongly  and  coherently,  and  every  word 
of  that  precious  afternoon  was  eagerly  treasured  with 
deep  thankfulness  for  the  privilege  of  hearing  him 
speak  once  more. 

He  supposed  he  was  dying,  and  took  affectionate 
leave  of  her,  adding:  "Not  for  long.  Friends  in 
Christ  can  not  be  long  parted.  Our  union  has  been 
in  Christ  and  for  Christ;  we  can  look  the  angels  in 
their  faces  with  it." 


"/  AM  READY."  495 

After  a  pause,  lie  said :  "  Praise  the  Lord,  I  have  had 
a  good  time.  Thanks,  thanks,  thanks!  I  have  lived 
long  enough.  I  am  ready.  What  would  signify  a  year 
or  two  longer  of  life  ?  I  do  not  think  there  is  any  more 
that  I  could  do.  Lord,  forgive  all  that  has  been  amiss." 

He  sent  last  messages  to  those  dearest  to  him,  and 
spoke  most  of  all  of  St.  Johnland;  charging  her  who 
sat  by  him  to  keep  on  bravely  and  fearlessly  in  the 
work  there,  confident  that  it  is  of  the  Lord ;  after  which, 
lifting  up  his  arms  and  eyes  heavenward  he  so  be- 
sought grace  and  blessing  for  it  that  the  answer 
could  not  be  doubted. 

After  recapitulating  some  last  directions,  he  said, 
"  My  back  aches  severely,  but  never  mind.  It  is  good 
for  me  to  suffer  something,"  and  then  he  repeated, 
distinctly  and  unhesitatingly,  the  last  three  verses  of 
the  hymn  which  had  been  his  favorite  in  boyhood: 

"Jesus,  my  Lord,  I  know  his  name, 

His  name  is  all  my  trust, 
Nor  will  he  bring  my  soul  to  shame, 
Nor  let  my  hope  be  lost. 

"Firm  as  his  throne  his  promise  stands, 

And  he  can  well  secure 
What  I've  committed  to  his  hands 
Till  the  decisive  hour. 

"Then  will  he  own  my  worthless  name 

Before  his  Father's  face, 
And  in  the  New  Jerusalem 
Appoint  my  soul  a  place." 


496  WILLIAtif  AUGUSTUS   MUHLENBERG. 

After  this,  great  restlessness  ensued  and  the  next 
day  was  a  most  distressing  one  from  a  cerebral  disturb- 
ance which,  without  impairing  his  consciousness,  haunt- 
ed him  with  phantasmagoria  in  a  very  harassing  man- 
ner. His  endurance  of  this  new  trial  was  striking. 
He  would  describe  and  analyze  the  phantoms — now 
a  huge  balloon,  floating  over  his  bed,  then  the  walls 
were  covered  with  hieroglyphics,  or  perplexing  dia- 
grams spread  themselves  over  the  ceiling;  these  were 
so  real  to  him  that  he  could  sometimes  hardly  be  per- 
suaded his  attendants  did  not  see  them.  Later  the 
apparitions  increased  fearfully  and  his  suffering  was 
intense.  He  was  always  jealous  as  to  a  sound  mind 
and  began  to  fear  for  his  reason.  He  bade  his  Sister 
nurse  pray  the  Lord  to  take  him  away  by  whatever 
violence,  rather  than  to  suffer  him  to  live  on  in  im- 
becility. Seeing  her  grief,  he  suddenly  calmed  him- 
self, exclaiming,  with  attempted  cheerfulness,  "Well, 
well!  It  can't  be  helped,  many  have  had  them.  It's 
all  right,  a  good  discipline  for  me." 

Throughout  his  illness,  rarely  a  wakeful  hour  passed 
without  some  interesting,  holy  words,  and  the  greater 
part  of  his  nights,  whether  fully  awake  or  but  semi- 
conscious, were  spent  in  absorbed,  audible  "stress  of 
prayer."  Amid  thickened  speech  and  broken  utter- 
ance, one  could  hear  pathetic  supplications  and  joy- 
ous praises.  "Lord,  forgive  my  mistakes.  Forgive 
my  sins.  Wash  me  clean.  Jesus,  thou  art  all  in  all. 
Praise,  everlasting  praise ! "  Then,  from  time  to  time, 
he  would  lift  his  arms  over  his  head,  clasp  his  hands, 


"THAT  IS    THE    CHURCH."  497 

and  seem  in  rapturous  communion  with  far  other  than 
the  poor  watchers  at  his  bedside. 

Sometimes,  after  lying  apparently  asleep  or  as  una- 
ware of  any  one's  presence,  he  would  abruptly  utter 
something  that  showed  how  his  thoughts  were  occu- 
pied; thus,  without  any  previous  reference  to  the  sub- 
ject: 

"Our  Lord  did  not  send  Judas  out  before  the  com- 
munion, that  would  have  been  to  make  or  proclaim 
him  a  traitor.  Judas  ivent  out,  and  then  it  was  as 
if  Jesus  had  said,  'The  traitor  has  gone,  now,  my  be- 
loved ones,  come  and  partake  of  the  parting  feast."  At 
another  time:  "Those  Alpine  chapels — how  sublime 
that  among  those  heights  there  is  ceaseless  worship." 
Again :  "  *  Love  one  another  as  I  have  loved  you ' — 
'Love  one  another!' — Yes,  that's  it;  that's  the  church." 

During  a  delirious  night  he  broke  out  into  a  rhapsody 
on  Evangelical  Catholicism.  He  seemed  to  be  address- 
ing a  congregation  of  ministers  in  the  Church  of  the 
Testimony  at  St.  John  land,  spoke  eloquently  of  the 
Fatherhood  of  God — the  Brotherhood  of  men  in  Christ. 
Suddenly,  as  though  visited  by  applicants  for  relief, 
he  asked  his  nurse  to  get  him  a  pair  of  shoes  for  a 
man  who  he  thought  asked  for  them;  after  which  he 
sank  exhausted  into  a  sleep  of  some  duration.  On 
awaking  he  said,  "Well,  has  he  got  them?"  "What 
do  you  mean  ?  "  it  was  asked.  "  Why,  the  poor  fellow 
who  wanted  the  shoes.  See  that  he  is  not  sent  off 
without  them."  In  the  wanderings  of  his  mind  he 
was  constantly  occupied  in  the  relief  of  the  poor. 


498  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS   MUHLENBERG. 

He  made  much,  as  was  always  his  habit,  of  the  ac- 
commodation and  attendance  secured*  for  him:  "No 
royal  person  could  be  better  provided.  Such  rooms, 
such  comforts,  such  doctors  and  nurses."  He  was  never 
left  exclusively  to  hired  attendants,  however  trust- 
worthy, and  he  appreciated  it.*  After  thus  review- 
ing his  mercies  he  would  clasp  his  hands  saying: 

"Ten  thousand  thousand  precious  gifts, 

My  daily  thanks  employ; 
Nor  is  the  least  a  cheerful  heart, 

That  tastes  those  gifts  with  joy. 

i 

At  another  time:  "If  I  have  many  sorrows,  I  have 
innumerable  mercies." 

Towards  the  middle  of  March  there  was  a  little  re- 
vival of  strength,  bodily  and  mental,  but  speedily 
to  die  out  again.  The  tenor  of  his  days  was  the  same 
whether  better  or  worse — prayer  and  praise  and  per- 
fect submission  to  God's  will,  with  loving  words  and 
ways  to  his  attendants,  and  now  and  then  a  little  play 
of  his  quaint  humor. 

"You  look  better  to-day,"  a  friend   remarked. 

"I  have  my  ups  and  my  downs,"  he  said;  "by  and 
by,  the  wave  will  come  that  will  float  me  over." 

*  His  physicians  were  Dr.  William  H.  Draper,  and  Dr.  Charles 
Packard.  His  chief  nurse  was  his  Sister  friend,  the  House  Motht  ,• 
and  then  Superintendent  of  the  Hospital,  who  was  devotedly  aided 
by  a  former  pupil  of  Dr.  Muhlenberg's,  the  Rev.  Dr.  McNamara,  at 
that  time,  acting  Chaplain  for  St.  Luke's  and  assistant  Pastor  of  St 
Johnland. 


"AMEN,   AMEN."  499 

One  morning,  at  his  usual  dressing-time  he  seemed 
so  languid,  so  absent  or  far  away,  and  so  unwilling  to 
be  moved,  that  his  attendant  was  directed  to  defer  his 
morning  duties  awhile,  the  Sister  adding:  "I  do  not 
think  it  right  to  disturb  him  as  he  now  lies."  To  the 
surprise  of  all  present,  he  instantly  said  in  a  strong, 
sonorous  voice,  "Amen,  Amen!  Thank  you." 

A  little  later  the  barber  came,  and  was  told  his  ser- 
vices would  be  dispensed  with  that  day.  The  man 
was  rather  a  privileged  person,  in  his  way,  and  instead 
of  taking  his  departure,  as  was  expected,  placed  him- 
self full  in  front  of  Dr.  Muhlenberg's  bed,  and  re- 
mained there,  unwilling  to  lose  what  he  came  for. 
"  Do  you  feel  able  to  be  shaved,  sir  ?  "  some  one  asked. 
"No!  I  feel  too  weak."  Then,  opening  his  eyes,  they 
fell  on  the  persistent  barber.  At  once,  he  roused  him- 
self. "Oh!  you  are  there,  are  you?  You  want  your 
job,  of  course.  Well !  I'll  give  you  a  chance,"  and  so 
he  did,  without  further  delay,  unequal  as  he  felt  for 
the  exertion. 

St.  Johnland  was  almost  daily  on  his  lips  in  prayer 
or  blessing,  and  tidings  from  there  always  roused  him. 
Some  one,  not  well-conversant  with  the  work,  remarked 
that  it  would  be  a  desirable  locality  for  a  young  gentle- 
men's school.  With  unusual  quickness  he  said:  "Oh 
no !  I  could  never  give  it  up  to  that.  That  would  be 
to  have  it  supported  by  the  world,  and  the  world  would 
carry  it  on  in  its  own  way." 

About   two   weeks   before   Easter,   what    faint   hope 

there  had  been  that  he  might  rally  for  a  while  was 
32 


500  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS   MUHLENBERG. 

suddenly  brought  to  an  end  by  the  setting  in  of  alarm- 
ing symptoms.  He  quickly  discerned  the  anxiety  of 
the  medical  men  and  the  distress  of  his  friends.  "  Don't 
be  afraid,"  he  said  to  the  latter.  "  Never  mind.  It 
could  not  be  long,  at  any  rate.  I  am  satisfied.  The 
heavenly  Jerusalem — we'll  meet  again  there." 

At  another  time:  "How  could  things  be  more  beau- 
tifully ordered  for  my  departure, 

"Lord,  what  can  I  ask  of  thy  Providence  more, 
Than  thus  to  leave  for  the  heavenly  shore." 

Again :  "I  am  as  it  were  wounded  on  the  battle-field, 
but  I  can  still  work.  I  can  send  up  messages  from 
this  sick  bed  to  the  patients  in  the  wards  and  in  the 
Chapel,  and  I  can  pray  for  all."  One  of  his  messages 
later  was  as  follows:  "Tell  them  upstairs  not  to  be 
putting  up  prayers  for  my  recovery,  for  I  am  asking 
the  Lord  to  call  me  home.  I  don't  wish  confusion  in 
our  prayers."  Then:  "Jesus,  Good  Shepherd,  take  me, 
take  me.  0  that  I  had  wings  like  a  dove,  then  would 
I  flee  away  and  be  at  rest."  "  I  am  so  tired,"  he  said, 
on  another  occasion;  "so  oppressed  with  languor  and 
weakness,  I  know  not  what  to  do."  "  If  we  could  but 
help  you,"  was  said  in  reply.  "  What  can  we  do  that 
you  may  be  eased  ? "  Instantly  he  answered,  "  Be 
strong  in  the  Lord  and  in  the  power  of  his  might," 
and  in  so  saying  the  burden  seemed  momentarily  lifted 
from  him. 

A  Sister  and  others  would  from  time  to  time  come 
for  his  blessing.     On  one  of  these  occasions,  he  asked 


"THOSE   ARE    GLORIOUS    WORDS."  501 

rather  urgently,  for  a  young  Sister  newly  entered  when 
he  was  taken  ill,  and  who  had  evidently  been  much 
on  his  mind,  though  he  had  hardly  seen  her.  He  laid 
his  hands  on  her  head  as  she  kneeled  by  him,  with  a 
prayer  that  being  "found  faithful  unto  death  she  might 
receive  the  crown  of  life." 

He  grew  much  worse,  sometimes  remaining  in  a 
nearly  comatose  state  for  hours,  then  brightening  up, 
he  would  talk  much  and  pray  still  more.  Bishop  Ker- 
foot  spent  some  days  with  his  beloved  old  master, 
and  on  Palm  Sunday  took  advantage  of  more  contin- 
uous consciousness  for  the  celebration  of  the  Lord's 
Supper.  The  bishop  had  received  his  first  communion 
at  the  hands  of  him  to  whom  he  now  gave  his  last. 
Dr.  Muhlenberg  enjoyed  the  privilege  of  communing, 
"More  than  I  expected,"  he  faltered  out,  and  although 
he  sank  into  semi-consciousness  through  a  large  part 
of  the  service,  true  to  his  joyous  nature,  he  was  him- 
self in  all  the  more  praiseful  parts  of  the  office,  joining 
particularly,  with  some  strength  of  voice,  in  the  Ter 
Sanctus  and'  Gloria  in  Excelsis. 

On  Good  Friday,  he  was  able  to  listen  comfortably 
to  some  reading  from  St.  John's  Gospel.  It  was  the 
eleventh  chapter,  the  raising  of  Lazarus.  At  the  pas- 
sage, "Whoso  liveth  and  believeth  in  Me  shall  never 
die,"  he  exclaimed,  "Yes,  those  are  glorious  words. 
Those  are  my  death  words.  This  is  the  happiest  day 
of  my  life." 

"  Do  you  expect  to  die  to-day  ? "  it  was  asked. 

"No,  I  feel  rather  strong." 


502  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS   MUHLENBERG. 

A  little  after  he  said,  "  If  the  Lord  would  but  come 
and  take  me — but  as  he  wills." 

The  bells  of  St.  Thomas's  Church  were  silenced  very 
frequently  during  that  Lent,  in  tender  regard  for  the 
venerable  sufferer.  The  rector's  usual  kind  morning 
inquiry  on  the  subject  was  referred  to  the  patient  on 
a  certain  day,  when  he  was  brighter  than  usual.  "  I 
don't  like  those  Lenten  tones,"  he  said,  "but  let  them 
ring,"  adding,  "I  feel  lively." 

But  if  those  penitential  minors  were  in  ill  accord 
with  his  Christian  joyousness,  the  beautiful  bells  were 
amply  vindicated  when  Easter  Day  came.  Steadily 
declining  as  he  then  was,  scarcely  at  ail  alive  to  ordi- 
nary matters,  when  at  the  dawn  of  the  festival,  they 
sounded  forth  triumphantly,  "Jesus  Christ  is  risen  to- 
day, Hallelujah,"  he  was  transported  with  pleasure, 
endeavoring  to  accompany  them  with  his  voice  and 
again  and  again  expressing  his  delight.  "Beautiful! 
Beautiful !  Praise,  all  praise ! "  After  enjoying  the 
early  bells,  he  recited  the  Te  Deum  antiphonally 
with  his  friend,  remarking  at  the  close  that  the  as- 
cription "Holy,  Holy,  Holy,"  ought  to  be  said  in 
unison  by  the  clergyman  and  the  congregation.  Af- 
ter he  had  rested  a  while,  his  favorite  Easter  verses 
were  read  to  him  from  the  twentieth  of  St.  John: 
"Go  tell  my  brethren,  I  ascend  to  your  Father  and 
my  Father,  your  God  and  my  God."  "Thank  you,"  he 
exclaimed,  not  without  some  ring  of  his  wonted  joy- 
ousness, "those  are  glorious  words.  They  should  be 
written  in  diamonds  and  rubies,"  repeating  them  again 


SIXTY  HOURS.  503 

to  himself.  Later  he  wanted  some  Easter  music  in  his 
room.  A  beloved  musical  son,  who  was  present,  drew 
the  melodeon  from  the  study  to  the  door  connecting 
with  the  bedroom,  and  played  and  sang  "Christ  the 
Lord  is  risen  to-day,  sons  of  men  and  angels  say."  Dr. 
Muhlenberg  joined  with  all  the  voice  he  could  com- 
mand, in  the  chorus  after  every  verse.  This  was  his 
last  song  of  praise  below. 

As  Easter  Day  wore  on,  he  sank  into  a  more  com- 
atose condition  than  had  yet  been.  He  was  writh  diffi- 
culty roused  to  take  nourishment,  but  in  every  lucid 
interval  there  were  broken  utterances  of  prayer  and 
praise,  and  of  longings  "  to  depart  and  be  with  Christ." 
During  the  succeeding  day,  his  consciousness  became 
increasingly  obscured,  and  so  continued  until  the  dawn 
of  Friday,  April  the  6th,  when  he  was  heard  to  utter 
some  petitions  of  the  Lord's  Prayer.  A  little  later  he 
said  a  faint  "Good  morning"  to  his  friend  as  she  bent 
over  him,  and  that  was  the  end  of  his  intercourse  with 
earth. 

He  never  spoke  again,  nor  opened  his  eyes,  nor 
moved  upon  his  pillow,  nor  took  the  slightest  nourish- 
ment, though  his  final  release  was  not  until  the  Sunday 
night  following. 

It  was  a  watch  of  sixty  hours.  Breathing  almost 
imperceptibly,  without  the  least  sound  of  the  voice, 
or  stir  of  hand  or  foot,  the  form  so  venerated,  so 
beloved,  lay  utterly  prostrate,  with  an  entire  shroud- 
ing of  mind  and  soul.  Some  who  watched  there  could 
not  have  borne  the  sight,  but  for  the  thought  of  the 


504  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

cross  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  the  infinite  mys- 
tery and  marvel  of  the  obscuring  of  the  Divine  as 
well  as  the  human  spirit,  ere  the  Lord  entered  Paradise. 

He  died  on  Sunday  night,  April  8th,  at  a  little  after 
ten  o'clock.  The  only  perceptible  change  at  the  mo- 
ment of  dissolution,  was  the  unmistakable  shade  that 
passed  over  the  face.  The  friend  whom  he  had  so 
often  charged  to  see  him  "  safe  out  of  the  world," 
fulfilled  the  behest  to  the  utmost,  kneeling  by  his 
couch  and  holding  his  dying  hand  till  the  last  faint 
pulsation  of  life  had  some  time  ceased. 

Few  were  present,  at  the  moment,  in  addition  to  the 
habitual  attendants  of  that  sacred  room.  His  niece, 
and,  next  to  Mrs.  Rogers,  only  near  relative,  Mrs.  Chis- 
olm,  with  members  of  her  family;  three  of  his  "sons  in 
the  Lord,"  a  friend  from  St.  Johnland,  and  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Geer,  accidentally  calling  at  the  house  with  loving  in- 
quiry, were  all.  The  latter  came  in  only  a  few  min- 
utes before  the  saint's  release,  and  said  the  last  prayer 
for  him.  A  breathless  silence  followed.  Then,  all  rose 
and  recited  together  the  Gloria  in  Excelsis.  There  was 
nothing  left  to  do,  but  to  give  thanks,  even  though 
eye  and  heart  were  straining  yearningly  after  him — 
"My  Father,  my  Father,  the  chariots  of  Israel  and 
the  horsemen  thereof!" 

The  funeral,  in  accordance  with  his  expressed  wishes, 
was  markedly  plain.  "I  desire  to  be  buried  as  the 
poorest  of  my  brethren." 

On  a  certain  occasion,  replying  to  some  counsels  of 
prudence,  he  had  said,  "I  only  need  to  leave  enough 


"EVERY  BODY'S    FATHER   IS    GONE."  505 

to  bury  me."  He  did  not  do  this.  All  he  possessed 
at  his  death  was  forty  dollars,  in  two  gold  pieces,  giveu 
him  shortly  before  his  illness.  This  gold  was  after- 
wards bestowed  upon  a  devoted  attendant  of  his  sick 
room. 

A  eulogy,  attributed  to  William  Cullen  Bryant,  con- 
tains the  following:  "Other  men  have  accumulated 
wealth  that  they  might  found  hospitals;  he  accumu- 
lated the  Hospital  fund  as  such,  never  owning  it  and 
therefore  never  giving  it.  The  charitable  institutions 
which  he  founded,  were  to  him  what  family,  and 
friends,  and  personal  prosperity  are  to  men  generally, 
and  dying  as  he  did,  poor,  in  St.  Luke's  Hospital,  he 

died  a  grandly  successful  man "  The  above 

brings  to  mind  a  satire  once  uttered  by  the  departed, 
in  reference  to  the  accumulation  of  enormous  wealth; 
he  called  it,  "living  to  die  rich." 

He  was  buried  on  the  fourth  day  after  his  decease. 
The  interment  was  at  St.  Johnland;  the  preliminary 
part  of  the  office  in  the  Chapel  of  St.  Luke's  Hospital, 
on  the  day  previous. 

The  remains  were  robed  in  surplice  and  stole,  with  a 
copy  of  St.  John's  Gospel,  opened  at  the  fourteenth  chap- 
ter, lying  upon  the  breast.  Some  two  hours  in  advance 
of  the  time  appointed  for  the  service  in  St.  Luke's,  the 
body  was  laid  in  its  place  before  the  chancel,  in  order 
that  the  patients  and  others  so  desiring,  might  have 
full  opportunity  to  see  his  face  in  death.  A  guardian 
of  the  precious  dust  was  necessary  to  control  the  dem- 
onstrations of  grief.  One  poor  widow  passionately 


506  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

kissed  his  name  upon  the  coffin  lid,  exclaiming,  "Every 
body's  father  is  gone." 

The  Chapel  was  not  large  enough  to  receive  the 
multitude  who  came  to  the  funeral.  "Dr.  Muhlen- 
berg's  taste  and  feeling,"  said  one,  "  revolted  from  the 
display  and  extravagance  of  floral  funeral  tributes; 
but,  if  every  one  who  loved  and  honored  him,  from 
all  classes  and  conditions  of  men  and  women,  and 
from  all  the  branches  of  the  Christian  church,  should 
lay  but  a  violet  or  a  crocus  upon  his  bier,  his  grave 
would  not  contain  the  flowers." 

The  remains,  accompanied  by  a  few  personal  friends, 
including  Bishop  Kerfoot,  were  conveyed  from  the  city 
by  the  evening  train,  in  readiness  for  the  burial  on  the 
morrow.  The  St.  Johnland  station  was  reached  just 
after  sunset.  As  the  cars  stopped,  the  little  platform 
was  seen  crowded  with  boys,  older  and  younger,  wait- 
ing in  awed  silence  for  the  arrival,  of  all  that  remained 
to  them  of  their  friend  and  father. 

The  casket  was  transferred  to  the  hearse  in  waiting, 
and  next  to  it,  in  sad  procession,  followed  these  young 
St.  Johnlanders,  on  foot.  The  friends  from  New  York, 
in  their  conveyance,  completed  the  cortege.  It  took 
fully  an  hour  thus  to  make  the  mile  and  a  half  of  dis- 
tance between  the  railroad  station  and  the  gate-house 
of  the  village;  the  twilight  meantime  deepening,  and 
the  distant  tolling  of  the  Church  bell  falling  mournfully 
upon  the  ear. 

"  Well !  well !  "  Bishop  Kerfoot  said,  as  he  caught 
sight  of  the  gathering  at  the  railroad  station,  and 


THE   ARRIVAL.  507 

then  followed  them  in  their  close  attendance  upon  the 
hearse,  "This  is  reality.  This  is  what  he  would  have 
liked." 

There  was  just  light  enough,  on  arriving,  to  descry 
the  sobbing  groups,  issuing  from  the  different  houses. 
All  followed  the  funeral  train  into  the  Church,  dimly 
lighted  at  the  chancel,  where  the  remains  were  rever- 
ently placed,  and  from  that  moment,  faithfully  guarded 
by  relays  of  young  male  communicants,  both  through- 
out the  night,  and  until  the  hour  of  burial,  next  day. 
The  little  sanctuary  was  thronged,  making  deep,  solemn 
shadows  in  the  unlighted  aisle.  It  was  impossible  to 
separate  without  united  prayer.  The  bishop  led  in  an 
improvised  service,  not  a  mournful  one;  but  looking 
upwards,  whither  the  sainted  father  had  gone,  lifting 
the  thoughts  of  those  true  mourners,  from  the  sad 
mortality  before  their  eyes,  to  the  unspeakable  joy  of 
his  beatified  soul  in  Paradise. 

In  a  private  letter,  the  bishop  afterward  wrote:  "That 
journey  to  St.  Johnland,  specially  that  slow  walk  from 
the  train  to  the  gate,  and  then,  that  strange,  quiet, 
solemn  movement  in  the  dusk  towards  the  Church, 
among  those  groups  of  his  sheltered  orphans,  old  and 
young;  and  that  entrance  and  silent  depositing  of 
the  body — and  that  service  of  trust  and  triumph,  that 
no  sadness  could  suppress — Oh !  what  a  true  and  noble 
pageant  was  it  all,  in  the  sight  of  holy  angels  looking 
on.  No  old  story  of  the  church  can  surpass  it.  .  .  . 
I  recall  none  other  so  significant " 

The  burial  took  place  in  the  early  afternoon  of  the 


508  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

next  day,  after  the  arrival  of  the  morning  train  from 
New  York.  Dr.  Muhlenberg  had  been  explicit  in  his 
directions,  that  no  invitations  were  to  be  sent,  and  no 
sermon  or  address  was  to  be  added  to  the  appointed 
service  of  the  church,  which  again  was  to  be  read  by 
a  single  clergyman,  whoever  might  be  on  duty.  Also, 
there  was  to  be  no  anthem,  or  ornamental  music,  but 
a  simple  hymn  of  faith  to  some,  well-known  plain  tune. 

A  large'  concourse  gathered.  "Bishops  and  other 
clergy,"  college  sons  of  former  days,  dear  kindred 
and  loving  friends  and  neighbors  thronged  to  pay 
him  a  last  tribute  of  respect  and  affection.  Every 
thing  was  done  as  he  would  have  wished.  The  aged 
brethren  from  St.  John's  Inn,  with  the  poor  children 
from  the  different  houses  led  the  funeral  procession  as 
it  wound  around  the  little  church,  and  up  the  hill  to 
the  cemetery. 

No  hired  official  took  part  in  the  interment.  Four 
St.  Johnland  communicants  bore  the  coffin,  other  com- 
municating members  of  the  Community  had  dug  and 
shaped  the  grave,  and  stood  waiting  there  in  readiness 
to  complete  their  sad  though  voluntary  and  privileged 
task.  Bishop  Kerfoot  and  the  venerable  Dr.  Diller, — 
oldest  of  the  long  line  of  his  colJege  sons, — dropped  the 
earth  on  his  sacred  ashes  at  the  words  of  committal; 
the  usual  prayers  were  said,  a  hymn  sung — 

' '  Angels  and  living  saints  and  dead, 

But  one  communion  make; 
All  join  in  Christ,  their  vital  head, 
And  of  his  love  partake  " — 


HIS    GRAVE-STONE.  609 

And  so  "every  body's  father,"  and  the  "St.  John"  of 
these  latter  days  was  buried. 

Possibly  some  present  said  in  their  hearts  that  which 
one  of  the  funeral  guests  was  heard  openly  to  ex- 
press: "What  a  poor  little  place  to  put  so  great  a 
man  in."  Yet  he  sleeps  well  in  his  own  St.  Johnland — 
a  father  in  the  midst  of  his  children,  and  "  where,"  as 
he  loved  to  say,  "  I  can  speak  from  my  grave  for  the 
4  Evangelic  Brotherhood.' " 

And  this  he  does.  Almost  immediately  after  the 
funeral,  contributions  were  spontaneously  offered  to- 
wards the  erection  of  a  durable  stone,  or  "monument," 
as  it  is  popularly  called,  to  mark  the  resting-place  of 
the  precious  remains.  Dr.  Muhlenberg's  long  esteemed 
friend  and  brother  in  the  ministry,  Dr.  Heman  Dyer, 
acquiesced  in  a  request  that  he  should  be  the  treasurer 
of  this  fund,  and  announced  from  time  to  time,  over  his 
own  name,  the  contributions  as  they  came  in.  AVithout 
any  solicitation  nearly  twelve  hundred  dollars  were  re- 
ceived. The  cost  of  the  stone  was  between  eight  and 
nine  hundred  dollars.  The  balance  was  expended  in 
improving  the  burial  ground  which  is  now  enlarged  to 
twice  its  original  size,  enclosed  by  a  well-built  rustic 
fence  of  native  cedar- wood,  and  with  the  tall  trees  that 
shade  it  and  the  sweet  surrounding  scenery,  forms  a 
beautiful  rural  cemetery. 

The  subscriptions  to  the  stone  consisted  largely  of  the 
offerings  of  poor  persons,  often  in  sums  of  fifty  and 
twenty-five  cents.  One  poor  little  girl  sent  four  cents, 
a  poor  boy,  with  small  earnings,  "  Two  dollars  for  the 


510  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

Doctor's  head-stone."  and  another  contributor,  five  dol- 
lars, with  these  words:  "From  a  Bishop  who  would 
be  glad  to  sit  at  his  feet  in  heaven." 

The  "monument,"  of  dark  polished  Aberdeen  gran- 
ite, is  composed  of  a  solid  but  gracefully  propor- 
tioned cross  upon  a  handsome  massive  cube,  heavily 
capped;  the  whole  standing  ten  and  a  half  feet  high, 
with  a  foundation  six  feet  in  depth.  It  is  placed  at. 
the  head  of  the  grave,  and  indestructible  and  im- 
movable, so  guards  the  sacred  spot.  At  the  intersec- 
tion of  the  arms  of  the  cross,  one  on  each  side,  are 
the  ancient  monograms  of  the  "Alpha  and  Omega" 
and  "Jesus  Hominum  Salvator."  Dr.  Muhlenberg  had 
left  in  writing :  "  If  I  have  a  tomb-stone,  I  want  these 
words  on  it — 'I  know  whom  I  have  believed,'"  and 
therefore  on  the  west  front  of  the  cube  those  words 
are  engraven.  On  the  east  front,  facing  the  grave, 
is  read  (suitably  adjusted  as  an  inscription) — "Here 
sleeps  the  earthly  part  of  William  Augustus  Muhlen- 
berg, Doctor  in  Divinity.  He  was  born,  Sept.  16th, 
1796,  ended  his  work,  April  8th,  1877."  On  the  side 
of  the  stone  northward,  the  reason  of  his  interment 
in  that  place  is  thus  expressed:  "In  Testimony  of 
those  Evangelical  Catholic  Principles,  to  which,  as 
the  Founder  of  St.  Johnland,  he  consecrated  it." 

Near  to  him  are  interred  the  remains  of  a  num- 
ber of  the  aged  pilgrims  whom  his  love  and  care  suc- 
cored in  their  declining  years,  and  nigh  these  again, 
are  the  little  grassy  hillocks  of  several  crippled  chil- 
dren and  others.  The  graves  are  designated  by  simple 


THE    ONE    CROSS.  513 

blocks  or  index  stones ;  the  rule  of  the  cemetery  for  all, 
of  whatever  degree,  who  are  privileged  to  lie  there. 
The  stone  marking  the  Founder's  grave  is  the  sole 
monument,  and  its  surmounting  cross  -the  one  symbol 
of  redemption  for  all  the  sleepers  there,  for  them  and 
him  alike  proclaiming:  "WHOSOEVER  LIVETH  AND  BE- 
LIE VETH  IN  ME  SHALL  NEVER  DIE." 


CHAPTER   XXX. 

CONCLUSION. 

Effect  upon  Community  of  his  Death.— Multitude  of  Tributes.— Extracts 
from  the  more  important.— The  Bishop  of  Long  Island  and  others. — 
An  Ode  "In  Memoriam." 

"!T  is  but  just  and  natural  that  when  such  a  man 
dies  the  whole  community  should  be  moved."  So  a 
clergyman  expressed  himself  in  commenting  upon  Dr. 
Muhlenberg's  life  and  character,  shortly  after  his  de- 
cease. The  impression  made  by  the  event  was  pro- 
found and  widely  spread.  Sermons,  addresses,  resolu- 
tions of  respect  and  affection,  tributes  of  all  kinds,  were 
poured  forth  both  by  the  secular  and  the  religious 
press,  and  as  well  from  Christian  bodies  and  individuals, 
exterior  to  his  own  communion,  as  from  almost  every 
diocese  within  its  border. 

Passages  from  several  of  the  more  important  of  these 
tributes  have,  with  due  acknowledgment,  been  freely 
used  in  the  course  of  this  work,  whether  to  explain 
some  great  church  movement  or  to  illustrate  any  par- 
ticular wherein  a  lower  pen  could  not  do  equal  justice 
to  the  subject.  But  there  remain  one  or  two  others  of 
the  class,  too  thoughtfully  analytic  and  eloquently  true, 
not  to  have  more  than  the  fugitive  existence  of  their 
first  issue,  some  extracts  from  which,  regarding  traits 


COMMON  PROPERTY   OF    THE    CHURCH.  515 

and  characteristics,  not  hitherto  fully  brought  out, 
may  most  appropriately  close  this  inadequate  presen- 
tation of  our  beloved  and  venerated  father  in  the 
church. 

The  following  is  from  the  bishop  of  Long  Island 
in  his  annual  address:  ".  .  .  .  The  church  at  large 
has  been  called  to  mourn  the  loss  of  one  whose  saintly 
character  and  remarkable  labors,  extending  over  a 
long  life,  made  him  beyond,  perhaps,  any  man  of  his 
day,  whether  bishop,  priest,  deacon,  or  layman,  the 
common  property  of  the  church  throughout  the  land. 
His  canonical  residence  was  of  no  moment  in  making 
up  his  record,  for  his  real  home,  his  acknowledged 
place,  was  in  the  hearts  of  God's  people.  .  .  .  He 
was  a  man  of  whom  any  age  of  the  church  might  have 
been  proud.  Fame  and  honor,  and  with  them  the  no- 
blest form  of  influence,  might  have  been  his,  if  he  had 
only  done  one  of  the  many  great  works  for  which  his- 
tory will  give  him  a  foremost  place  among  his  fellows. 
He  was  not  prominent  as  a  thinker  in  the  purely  intel- 
lectual sense.  He  was  not  strong  in  the  power  that 
grapples  with  and  holds  firmly  in  hand  the  subtle  dis- 
tinctions and  abstract  issues  of  metaphysical  specula- 
tion. He  did  not  excel  as  an  apologist  or  a  contro- 
versialist. He  laid  no  claim  to  —  nay,  shrank  from 
being  considered  an  authority  in  theology  regarded 
as  a  logical  or  scientific  exhibition  of  the  whole  counsel 
of  God.  He,  indeed,  often  said  what  his  life-work  so 
gloriously  evinced,  that  his  heart  had  more  to  do  with 
his  confession  of  faith  than  his  head.  And  yet,  though 


516  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS   MUHLENBERG. 

he  had  no  taste  or  faculty  for — nay,  rather  dreaded  the 
dry  metallic  ring  of  the  higher  tasks  and  exercises  of 
disciplined  thinkers,  he  left  behind,  both  in  prose  and 
verse,  thoughts  that  will  breathe  and  burn  in  the  souls 
of  men  when  not  a  few  of  the  so-called  great  minds  of 
the  day  shall  have  been  forgotten.  It  is  astonishing 
that  so  quiet  and  gentle  a  life  should  have  developed 
so  many  of  the  qualities  and  gifts  of  leadership — lead- 
ership neither  claimed  by  him,  nor  formally  conceded 
to  him  by  others ;  but  none  the  less  real  and  effective. 
Scarcely  an  important  movement  can  be  named  pecu- 
liar to  the  last  forty  or  fifty  years  of  our  church  life, 
and  which  will  be  likely  to  tell  upon  the  next  half 
century  of  that  life,  that  he  did  not  originate  or  help 

others  to  originate. 

"Such  a  life  tempts  us  to  linger  upon  the  many 
tinted  and  mellow  side  lights  glancing  from  it  in  all 
directions,  as  well  as  on  the  great,  visible,  focal  points 
on  which  its  energies  converged.  No  life  has  been 
lived  among  us  in  this  generation  that  has  furnished 
richer  materials  for  a  biography  of  lasting  interest  to 
the  church.  It  was  habitually  hidden  from  public 
sight,  and  singularly  uneventful  as  the  world  reckons, 
but  its  individuality  was  intense,  and  its  ardor  of  feel- 
ing and  conviction  contagious.  His  highest  power 
was  not  in  speech  or  in  the  pen — happy  as  he  was  in 
the  use  of  both — but  in  personal  contact,  in  the  pecu- 
liar spiritual  atmosphere  that  enveloped  him.  He  met 
the  supreme  test  of  true  goodness  and  true  greatness, 
for  to  none  was  he  so  good  and  so  great,  so  pure,  so 


GREATER    THAN  EITHER.  t       517 

tender,  and  so  loving  as  to  those  who  knew  him  best 

and  were  most  with  him 

"It  is  our  pride  and  joy  that  his  honored  grave  is 
with  us  on  Long  Island;  made,  as  was  his  wish,  with 
the  poor  and  lowly,  the  crippled  and  the  friendless, 
who  in  all  coming  years  shall  sleep  in  the  same  spot 
with  the  beloved  Founder  of  St.  Johnland — some  day 
to  rank  amongst  the  noblest  ventures  of  this,  or  any 
other  age.  That  sheltered  hillside,  where  rest  the 
mortal  remains  of  William  A.  Muhlenberg,  will  grow 
dearer  and  dearer  to  God's  people,  as  time  rolls  on;  and 
unless  we  have  greatly  exaggerated  the  quality  and 
amount  of  his  work  for  Christ,  and  all  for  whom  Christ 
died,  it  will  in  fifty  years,  be  accepted  as  one  of  the 
Christian  Meccas  of  our  country ;  and  certainly  of  our 
Island." 

The  bishop  of  Central  New  York  says:  "With  the 
least  possible  parade,  with  a  force  individual  and  sin- 
gle, with  a  self-forgetfulness  that  seemed  absolute,  he 
has  made  a  place  for  himself  in  the  priesthood  of  this 
church,  and  in  the  attachment  of  its  members,  from 
the  highest  to  the  lowest,  which  was  altogether  char- 
acteristic; and  it  is  left  entirely  empty  by  his  removal. 
Without  being  either  a  theologian  or  a  statesman,  he 
was  greater  than  either,  and  while  apparently  wrong 
in  some  opinions,  comprehended  as  few  men,  living  or 
dead,  have,  what  the  worship  and  work  of  this  church 

in  America  ought  to  be " 

33 


518  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

A  brother  presbyter  writes:  "There  were  in  him 
many  striking  characteristics,  almost  every  one  of 
which  would  have  made  him  a  man  of  mark.  But 
these  were  so  blended  and  so  beautifully  harmonious 
in  action  as  to  present  a  singularly  complete  and  sym- 
metrical whole.  Like  the  colors  of  the  rainbow,  each 
was  distinct  in  itself,  and  yet  so  gently  did  these  feat- 
ures shade  off  and  melt  into  one  another,  that  it  was 
impossible  to  tell  where  the  one  ended  and  the  other 

began It  was  impossible  for  such  a  nature 

to  move  in  straight  lines,  or  express  itself  according 
to  any  established  rules.  His  logic  was  the  logic  of 
deeds,  rather  than  of  words.  He  had  a  wonderful 
fancy,  and  it  was  wonderfully  active.  This  it  was 
which  gave  to  his  words  and  ways  such  an  intense 
interest,  and  made  his  wit  so  ready,  and  at  times  so 
amusing,  and  yet  so  real  and  so  true.  Often,  by  a 
single  sally  of  this  trenchant  weapon,  he  would  ex- 
pose and  annihilate  some  pretentious  folly,  or  admin- 
ister a  rebuke  never  to  be  forgotten.  But  his  fancy, 
like  the  heat-lightning  of  a  summer's  evening,  play- 
ing along  the  horizon,  lit  up  and  beautified  every  thing 
it  touched.  These  elements  spread  an  indescribable 
charm  over  all  his  life,  and  made  his  presence  and 
companionship  a  continued  delight  and  benediction. 
Added  to  these  was  a  comprehensiveness  which  in- 
cluded all  that  was  valuable — a  discrimination  which 
properly  assorted  and  distributed  whatever  was  to  be 
used — and  a  strong  practical  sense  which  controlled 
and  guided  every  thing  to  the  accomplishment  of  ob- 


NO    PRIDE    OF   OPINION.  519 

jects  and  ends  proposed.  Dr.  Muhlenberg  was  a  man 
of  strong,  almost  resistless,  will — but  lie  was  never 
self-willed.  He  was  also  a  man  of  positive  and  clearly 
defined  opinions,  but  never  opinionated.  He  was  open 
to  convictions,  ready  to  receive  suggestions  from  any 
and  all  sources,  and  as  ready  to  modify,  or  change 
his  plans  and  opinions  for  any  which  might  be  wiser 
and  better.  There  was  none  of  that  foolish  pride  of 
opinion  which  so  often  disfigures  otherwise  great  men. 
While  he  was  a  teacher,  he  was  also  a  learner.  He 
never  did  any  thing  so  well  but  that  it  might  be  im- 
proved. He  abhorred  the  idea  of  stereotyping  rules 
of  feeling,  or  thinking,  or  acting.  And  he  had  but 
little  respect  for  those  whose  mind  could  only  move 
in  ruts  and  grooves,  and  do  things  in  a  particular 
way He  rather  despised  that  kind  of  con- 
sistency which  can  not  tolerate  change,  even  for  the 
sake  of  improvement He  knew  God,  per- 
haps, better  than  most  men.  But  it  was  not  in  him 
to  trouble  himself  much  about  metaphysical  terms  and 
distinctions,  nor  was  it  possible  for  him  to  belong  ex- 
clusively to  any  particular  school  of  thought  or  of 
polity.  He  was  so  thoroughly  catholic  that  he  was 
ever  ready  to  receive  any  thing  good  from  all  schools. 
While  he  was  a  churchman  and  deeply  loved  the  wor- 
ship and  ways  of  his  own  church,  he  never  failed  to 
recognize  as  brethren  beloved,  all  the  followers  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  wherever  found.  He  cordially  dis- 
liked all  narrowness,  and  bigotry,  and  exclusiveness, 
as  hostile  to  the  spirit  of  Christianity,  and  inconsist- 


520  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS   MUHLENBERG. 

ent  with  the  brotherhood  of  believers.  His  love  and 
service  in  the  cause  of  Christ,  and  of  suffering  hu- 
manity, were  not  restricted  by  any  ecclesiastical  lines, 
but  went  out  to  all,  and  ministered  to  all  as  there 
was  ability  or  opportunity.  He  was  eminently  the 
common  property  of  a  common  Christianity,  and  his 
life  and  character  are  an  illustrious  example  of  its 
spirit  and  of  its  power.  One  such  life  does  more  to 
disarm  infidelity,  and  to  commend  the  Gospel  of  Christ, 
than  all  the  arguments  which  can  be  made,  or  all  the 
controversies  which  may  be  waged.  It  stands  forth 
like  the  sermon  on  the  mount — the  embodiment  and 
illustration  of  God's  law  and  God's  truth  to  man.  In 
its  spirit  and  beauty,  it  is  a  psalm  of  perpetual  praise 
and  thanksgiving.  We  bless  God  for  it.  We  bless 
God  that  this  great  community  has,  through  so  many 
years,  been  permitted  to  see  and  study  it.  No  words 
of  ours  can  express  the  benefits  and  blessings  of  such 
a  life.  The  living  example  has  passed  away,  and  we 
shall  see  it  no  more  forever.  But  its  silent  influence 
remains,  and  will  continue  to  inspire  and  shape  hu- 
man sympathies  and  human  energies  from  generation 
to  generation,  even  unto  the  end * 

"  The  best  monument  to  the  memory  of  Dr.  Muhlen- 
berg,"  said  another,  "  is  not  any  one  institution     .     ,   . ; 

but  the  influence  of  his  life  and  example 

throughout  this  community,  in  the  interest  of  Christian 

*  Kev.  Dr.  Heman  Dyer,  in  Parish  Visitor. 


HIS   BEST  MONUMENT.  521 

charity.  He  was  himself  a  prince  in  the  kingdom  of 
heaven,  according  to  the  measurement  of  rank  given 
by  our  Lord.  Not  a  great  man  was  he  as  the  world 
estimates  greatness,  by  degrees  of  wealth,  office,  power 
and  authority,  but  his  greatness  was  in  self-subjection 
for  the  good  of  others,  in  practical  usefulness.  How 
many  has  he  initiated  into  the  sweet  charities  which 
he  himself  exemplified.  How  many  have  been  taught 
by  him  to  find  their  pleasure  and  luxury,  in  giving 
for  worthy  objects.  How  many  rich  men  and  women 
in  this  city,  whose  confidence  he  had  won  by  his  man- 
ner of  life,  have  been  persuaded  to  bestow  on  public 
charities  the  money  which  would  otherwise  have  been 
squandered  on  display  arid  self-indulgence.  How 
many  currents  not  of  mere  impulsive  instincts,  but  of 
educated  Christian  principle,  have  been  started  by 
him;  which  will  continue  to  flow  wider  and  deeper 
long  after  every  edifice  associated  with  his  name  shall 
have  fallen  into  ruins.  It  is  his  rare  but  true  eulogy, 
pronounced  by  many,  that  there  is,  and  ever  will  be, 
more  of  Christian  charity  in  the  world,  because  Dr. 
Muhlenberg  has  lived  in  it  as  he  did.  This  is  a  monu- 
ment to  his  memory  which  is  imperishable."* 

Some  extended  quotations  have  been  made  in  the 
body  of  this  work  from  an  address  delivered  by  Dr. 
Harwood  before  an  association  of  clergymen,  of  which 
at  the  time  of  his  death,  Dr.  Muhlenberg  was  the  senior 

*  Rev.  Dr.  William  Adams,  in  New  York  Observer. 


522  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS  MUHLENBERG. 

member.  A  further  passage  from  this,  and  the  con- 
clusion of  a  poem  spoken  on  the  same  occasion  by  the 
Eev.  Dr.  George  D.  Wildes,  will  complete  the  design 
of  these  extracts. 

" .  .  .  .  His  fellow  Christians  of  every  name  were 
dear  to  him:  with  his  liturgical  genius  he  was  not 
afraid  of  free  prayer,  nor  did  he  ever  tremble  for  the 
safety  of  the  ark  of  God.  Clearly  he  was  possessed  of 
a  strong  common  sense,  which  was  inspired  by  the  fire 
of  a  poetic  temperament.  He  used  frequently  to  say 
that  all  his'  thoughts  were  embodied  in  concrete  forms, 
and  that  he  could  not  frame  abstract  propositions.  This 
was  entirely  true.  His  thinking  is  in  the  institutions 
and  the  charities  he  organized.  You  see  from  them 
and  in  them,  the  dominating  traits  of  his  faith  and 
religious  life.  His  faith  was  not  a  theological  formula, 
but  a  living  conviction  and  power.  It  was  a  free,  joy- 
ous allegiance  to  Jesus  Christ.  The  incarnation  of  the 
Word  of  God  in  Jesus  was  the  central  idea  of  his  the- 
ology and  the  inspiration  of  his  Christian  life.  It  was 
brotherhood  in  Christ — brotherhood  through  Christ — 
that  he  aimed  to  exemplify.  Upon  this  account  his 
religious  sympathies  overleaped  the  barriers  of  his  own 
communion,  and  upon  this  same  account  he  toiled  for 
those  who  needed  assistance.  This  made  him  the  con- 
soler of  the  wretched  and  the  counsellor  of  the  rich.  It 
gave  to  him  a  blessed  standing  ground,  and  he  remem- 
bered day  and  night  that  the  Lord  Jesus  became  poor  in 
order  that  we  through  His  poverty  might  be  rich.  .  .  . 
People  in  distress,  sought  his  counsel  and  strong  men 


"SILVER   AND    GOLD    HAVE    I  NONE."  523 

went  to  him  for  advice.  He  was  honored  with  the 
affectionate  veneration  of  thousands  throughout  the 
land,  and  New  York,  which  bows  down  to  wealth, 
was  proud  of  this  eminent  citizen,  who  could  but  say 
with  the  Apostle  Peter :  '  Silver  and  gold  have  I  none : 
but  such  as  I  have,  give  I  unto  thee.' 

"This  Club  has  special  reason  for  offering  its  homage 
to  the  great  presbyter  who  sleeps  now  in  the  sweet  se- 
clusion of  his  beloved  St.  Johnland.  He  took  the  live- 
liest interest  in  every  project  and  work  that  we  have 
thought  and  wrought.  He  stands  before  us  in  the  ful- 
ness of  his  living,  charitable,  eager  religion,  striving  to 
embody  his  idea  in  concrete  work  and  not  in  intellect- 
ual forms.  He  hailed  in  us  fellow-workers,  and  we 
beheld  in  him  the  wise  master-builder  who  sought  to 
make  men  one  in  the  fellowship  of  a  simple  faith.  ..." 


Man  among  men;  the  kind  courageous  heart 
Chivalric,  true,  to  aid  the  weaker  part, 
Free  in  the  liberty 
Of  Christ's  own  free, 

His  the  rare  martyr  soul ;  for  truth  and  right 
The  pleader  and  the  worker;  in  the  might 
Of  Christ's  great  might  to  stand 
At  his  command. 

'  Not  the  gray  annals  of  an  elder  time, 
Of  joyful  service  and  of  faith  sublime, 
In  rubricated  name 
Tell  worthier  lame. 


524  WILLIAM  AUGUSTUS   MUHLENBERG. 

"Fourscore  and  one  !  yet  not  the  good  old  age 
Measured  by  years  alone;  if  these  were  all, 
Unmeaning  life,  and  vain  the  sacred  page, 
The  patriarch's  record:  then  'twere  wise  to  install 
For  all  it  grants,  long  life  as  sovereign  good; 
To  account  the  hours  for  God  and  duty  given, 
Servants  of  greed,  and  passion's  fitful  mood 
The  all  in  all,  and  verity  of  heaven  ! 
Not  thine,  dear  saint !  thou  of  the  head  encrowned 
With  glory  in  the  ways  of  righteousness — 
Thus  to  thyself  to  live;  but  toilful,  found 
Blessing  and  blest  where'er  thy  Lord  would  bless; 
Not  to  'live  alway,'  this  thy  song  and  prayer; 
To  live  to  Christ,  thy  life's  supremest  care." 


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Netherlands :  from  the  Death  of  William  the  Silent  to  the  Twelve 
Years'  Truce — 1G09.  With  a  full  View  of  the  English-Dutch  Strug- 
gle against  Spain,  and  of  the  Origin  and  Destruction  of  the  Spanish 
Armada.  By  JOHN  LOTHROP  MOTLEY,  LL.D.,  D.C.L.  Portraits. 
Cheap  Edition,  4  vols.  in  a  Box,  8vo,  Cloth,  with  Paper  Labels,  Un- 
cut Edges  and  Gilt  Tops,  $8  00.  Sold  only  in  sets.  Original  Li- 
brary Edition,  4  vols.,  8vo,  Cloth,  $14  00;  Sheep,  $1G  00;  Half 
Calf,  $23  00. 

MOTLEY'S  LIFE  AND  DEATH  OF  JOHN  OF  BARNEVELD. 

The  Life  and  Death  of  John  of  Barneveld,  Advocate  of  Holland : 
with  a  View  of  the  Primary  Causes  and  Movements  of  "The  Thir- 
ty-years' War."  By  JOHN  LOTHROP  MOTLEY,  LL.D.,  D.C.L.  Illus- 
trated. Cheap  Edition,  2  vols.  in  a  Box,  8vo,  Cloth,  with  Paper  La- 
bels, Uncut  Edges  and  Gilt  Tops,  $4  00.  Sold  only  in  sets.  Origi- 
nal Library  Edition,  2  vols.,  8vo,  Cloth,  $7  00;  Sheep,  $8  00 ;  Half 
Calf,  $11  50. 

BENJAMIN'S  CONTEMPORARY  ART.  Contemporary  Art  in  Eu- 
rope. By  S.  G.  W.  BENJAMIN.  Illustrated.  8vo,  Cloth,  $3  50. 

BENJAMIN'S  ART  IN  AMERICA.  Art  in  America.  By  S.  G. 
W.  BENJAMIN.  Illustrated.  8vo,  Cloth,  $4  00. 

THE  FIRST  CENTURY  OF  THE  REPUBLIC.  A  Review  of  Amer- 
ican Progress.  8vo,  Cloth,  $5  00. 

HUDSON'S  HISTORY  OF  JOURNALISM.  Journalism  in  the 
United  States,  from  1690  to  1872.  BV  FREDERIC  HUDSON.  8vo, 
Cloth,  $5  00 ;  Half  Calf,  $7  25. 

JEFFERSON'S  LIFE.  The  Domestic  Life  of  Thomas  Jefferson: 
Compiled  from  Family  Letters  and  Reminiscences,  by  his  Great- 
granddaughter,  SARAH  N.  RANDOLPH.  Illustrated.  Crown  8vo, 
Cloth,  $2  50. 

SQUIER'S  PERU.  Peru:  Incidents  of  Travel  and  Exploration  in 
the  Land  of  the  Incas.  By  E.  GEORGE  SQUIER,  M.A.,  F.S.A.,  late 
U.  S.  Commissioner  to  Peru.  With  Illustrations.  8vo,  Cloth,  $5  00. 

MYERS'S  LOST  EMPIRES.  Remains  of  Lost  Empires  :  Sketches 
of  the  Ruins  of  Palmyra,  Nineveh,  Babylon,  and  Persepolis.  By  P. 
V.  N.  MYERS.  Illustrated.  8vo,  Cloth,  $3  50. 


Valuable  Works  for  Public  and  Private  Libraries.        3 

KINGLAKE'S  CRIMEAN  WAR.  The  Invasion  of  the  Crimea :  its 
Origin,  and  an  Account  of  its  Progress  down  to  the  Death  of  Lord 
Raglan.  By  ALEXANDER  WILLIAM  KINGLAKE.  With  Maps  and 
Plans.  Three  Volumes  now  ready.  12mo,  Cloth,  $2  00  per  vol. 

LAMB'S  COMPLETE  WORKS.  The  Works  of  Charles  Lamb. 
Comprising  his  Letters,  Poems,  Essays  of  Elia,  Essays  upon  Shak- 
speare,  Hogarth,  etc.,  and  a  Sketch  of  his  Life,  with  the  Final  Memo- 
rials, by  T.  NOON  TALFOURD.  With  Portrait.  2  vols.,  12mo,  Cloth, 

$3  00. 

LAWRENCE'S  HISTORICAL  STUDIES.  Historical  Studies.  By 
EUGENE  LAWRENCE.  Containing  the  following  Essays  :  The  Bish- 
ops of  Rome. — Leo  and  Luther. — Loyola  and  the  Jesuits. — Ecu- 
menical Councils. — The  Vaudois. — The  Huguenots. — The  Church  of 
Jerusalem. — Dominic  and  the  Inquisition. — The  Conquest  of  Ireland. 
—The  Greek  Church.  8vo,  Cloth,  Uncut  Edges  and  Gilt  Tops, 
$300. 

LOSSING'S  FIELD-BOOK  OF  THE  REVOLUTION.  Pictorial 
Field-Book  of  the  Revolution  :  or,  Illustrations  by  Pen  and  Pencil 
of  the  History,  Biography,  Scenery,  Relics,  and  Traditions  of  the 
War  for  Independence.  By  BENSON  J.  LOSSING.  2  vols.,  8vo,  Cloth, 
$14  00 ;  Sheep  or  Roan,  $15  00 ;  Half  Calf,  $18  00. 

LOSSING'S  FIELD-BOOK  OF  THE  WAR  OF  1812.  Pictorial 
Field-Book  of  the  War  of  1812:  or,  Illustrations  by  Pen  and  Pencil 
of  the  History,  Biography,  Scenery,  Relics,  and  Traditions  of  the  last 

.  War  for  American  Independence.  By  BENSON  J.  LOSSING.  With 
several  hundred  Engravings  on  Wood  by  Lossing  and  Barritt,  chiefly 
from  Original  Sketches  by  the  Author.  1088  pages,  8vo,  Cloth, 
$7  00 ;  Sheep,  $8  50 ;  Roan,  $9  00 ;  Half  Calf,  $10  00. 

FORSTER'S  LIFE  OF  DEAN  SWIFT.  The  Early  Life  of  Jonathan 
Swift  (1667-1711).  By  JOHN  FORSTER.  With  Portrait.  8vo,  Cloth, 
Uncut  Edges  and  Gilt  Tops,  $2  50. 

HALLAM'S  MIDDLE  AGES.  View  of  the  State  of  Europe  during 
the  Middle  Ages.  By  HENRY  HALLAM.  8vo,  Cloth,  $2  00  ;  Sheep, 

$2  50. 

HALLAM'S  CONSTITUTIONAL  HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND.    The 

Constitutional  History  of  England,  from  the  Accession  of  Henry  VII. 
to  the  Death  of  George  II.  By  HENRY  HALLAM.  8vo,  Cloth,  $2  00  \ 
Sheep,  $2  50. 

HALLAM'S  LITERATURE.  Introduction  to  the  Literature  of  Eu- 
rope during  the  Fifteenth,  Sixteenth,  and  Seventeenth  Centuries.  By 
HENRY  HALLAM.  2  vols.,  8vo,  Cloth,  $1  00 ;  Sheep,  $5  00. 

GREEN'S  ENGLISH  PEOPLE.  History  of  the  English  People.  By 
JOHN  RICHARD  GREEN,  M.A.  3  volumes  ready.  8vo,  Cloth,  $2  50 
per  volume. 


4        Valuable  Works  for  Public  and  Private  Libraries. 

SCHWEINFURTH'S  HEART  OF  AFRICA.  The  Heart  of  Africa. 
Three  Years'  Travels  and  Adventures  in  the  Unexplored  Regions  of 
the  Centre  of  Africa— from  1868  to  1871.  By  Dr.  GEORG  SCHWEIN- 
FURTH.  Translated  by  ELLEN  E.  FREWER.  With  an  Introduction 
by  WIN  WOOD  READE.  Illustrated  by  about  130  Wood -cuts  from 
Drawings  made  by  the  Author,  and  with  two  Maps.  2  vols.,  8vo, 
Cloth,  $8  00. 

M'CLINTOCK  &  STRONG'S  CYCLOPEDIA.  Cyclopaedia  of  Bib- 
lical, Theological,  and  Ecclesiastical  Literature.  Prepared  by  the 
Rev.  JOHN  M'CLINTOCK,  D.D.,  and  JAMES  STRONG,  S.T.D.  9  vols. 
now  ready.  Royal  8vo.  Price  per  vol.,  Cloth,  $5  00  ;  Sheep,  $6  00  ; 
Half  Morocco,  $8  00.  {Sold  by  Subscription.') 

MOHAMMED  AND  MOHAMMEDANISM :  Lectures  Delivered  at 
the  Royal  Institution  of  Great  Britain  in  February  and  March,  1874. 
By  R.  BOSWORTH  SMITH,  M.A.,  Assistant  Master  in  Harrow  School; 
late  Fellow  of  Trinity  College,  Oxford.  With  an  Appendix  contain- 
ing Emanuel  Deutsch's  Article  on  "  Islam."  12mo,  Cloth,  $1  50. 

MOSHEIM'S  ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY,  Ancient  and  Modern ; 
in  which  the  Rise,  Progress,  and  Variation  of  Church  Power  are  con- 
sidered in  their  Connection  with  the  State  of  Learning  and  Philos- 
ophy, and  the  Political  History  of  Europe  during  that  Period.  Trans- 
late'd,  with  Notes,  etc.,  by  A.  MACLAINE,  D.D.  Continued  to  1826, 
by  C.  COOTE,  LL.D.  2  vols.,  8vo,  Cloth,  $4  00 ;  Sheep,  $5  00. 

HARPER'S  NEW  CLASSICAL  LIBRARY.     Literal  Translations. 

The  following  volumes  are  now  ready.     12mo,  Cloth,  $1  50  each. 

C-SSAR. — VIRGIL. —  SALLUST.  —  HORACE.  —  CICERO'S  ORATIONS. — 
CICERO'S  OFFICES,  etc. — CICERO  ON  ORATORY  AND  ORATORS. — 
TACITUS  (2  vols.). — TERENCE. —  SOPHOCLES. — JUVENAL. —  XENO- 
PHON. — HOMER'S  ILIAD. — HOMER'S  ODYSSEY. — HERODOTUS. — DE- 
MOSTHENES (2  vols.). — THUCYDIDES. — JESCHYLUS. — EURIPIDES  (2 
vols.). — LIVY  (2  vols.). — PLATO  [Select  Dialogues]. 

PARTON'S  CARICATURE.  Caricature  and  Other  Comic  Art,  in 
All  Times  and  Many  Lands.  By  JAMES  PARTON.  With  203  Illus- 
trations. 8vo,  Cloth,  Uncut  Edges  and  Gilt  Tops,  $5  00 ;  Half  Calf, 
$7  25. 

NICHOLS'S  ART  EDUCATION.  Art  Education  applied  to  Indus- 
try. By  GEORGE  WARD  NICHOLS.  Illustrated.  8vo,  Cloth,  $4  00 ; 
Half  Calf,  $6  25. 

VINCENT'S  LAND  OF  THE  WHITE  ELEPHANT.  The  Land 
of  the  White  Elephant :  Sights  and  Scenes  in  Southeastern  Asia.  A 
Personal  Narrative  of  Travel  and  Adventure  in  Farther  India,  em- 
bracing the  Countries  of  Burma,  Siam,  Cambodia,  and  Cochin-China 
(1871-2).  By  FRANK  VINCENT,  Jr.  Illustrated  with  Maps,  Plans, 
and  Wood-cuts.  Crown  8vo,  Cloth,  $3  50. 


Valuable  Works  for  Public  and  Private  Libraries.        5 

LIVINGSTONE'S  SOUTH  AFRICA.  Missionary  Travels  and  Re- 
searches in  South  Africa:  including  a.  Sketch  of  Sixteen  Years' 
Residence  in  the  Interior  of  Africa,  and  a  Journey  from  the  Cape  of 
Good  Hope  to  Loanda  on  the  West  Coast ;  thence  across  the  Conti- 
nent, down  the  River  Zambesi,  to  the  Eastern  Ocean.  By  DAVID 
LIVINGSTONE,  LL.D.;  D.C.L.  With  Portrait,  Maps,  and  Illustra- 
tions. 8vo,  Cloth,  $4  50 ;  Sheep,  $5  00  ;  Half  Calf,  $6  75. 

LIVINGSTONES'  ZAMBESI.  Narrative  of  an  Expedition  to  the 
Zambesi  and  its  Tributaries,  and  of  the  Discovery  of  the  Lakes  Shir- 
wa  and  Nyassa,  1858-1864.  By  DAVID  and  CHARLES  LIVINGSTONE. 
Map  and  Illustrations.  8vo,  Cloth,  $5  00 ;  Sheep,  $5  50 ;  Half  Calf, 
$7  25. 

LIVINGSTONE'S  LAST  JOURNALS.  The  Last  Journals  of  David 
Livingstone,  in  Central  Africa,  from  1865  to  his  Death.  Continued 
by  a  Narrative  of  his  Last  Moments  and  Sufferings,  obtained  from 
his  Faithful  Servants  Chtima  and  Susi.  By  HORACE  WALLER, 
F.R.G.S.,  Rector  of  Twywell,  Northampton.  With  Portrait,  Maps, 
and  Illustrations.  8vo,  Cloth,  $5  00  ;  Sheep,  $5  50  ;  Half  Calf, 
$7  25.  Cheap  Popular  Edition,  8vo,  Cloth,  with  Map  and  Illustra- 
tions, $2  50. 

GROTE'S  HISTORY  OF  GREECE.     12  vols.,  12mo,  Cloth,  $18  00  ; 

Sheep,  $22  80  ;  Half  Calf,  $39  00. 

RECLUS'S  EARTH.  The  Earth:  a  Descriptive  History  of  the  Phe- 
nomena of  the  Life  of  the  Globe.  By  ELISEE  RECLUS.  With  234 
Maps  and  Illustrations,  and  23  Page  Maps  printed  in  Colors.  8vo, 
Cloth,  $5  00. 

RECLUS'S  OCEAN.  The  Ocean,  Atmosphere,  and  Life.  Being  the 
Second  Series  of  a  Descriptive  History  of  the  Life  of  the  Globe.  By 
ELISEE  RECLUS.  Profusely  Illustrated  with  250  Maps  or  Figures, 
and  27  Maps  printed  in  Colors.  8vo,  Cloth,  $6  00. 

NORDHOFF'S  COMMUNISTIC  SOCIETIES  OF  THE  UNITED 
STATES.  The  Communistic  Societies  of  the  United  States,  from 
Personal  Visit  and  Observation;  including  Detailed  Accounts  of  the 
Economists,  Zoarites,  Shakers,  the  Amana,  Oneida,  Bethel,  Aurora, 
Icarian,  and  other  existing  Societies.  With  Particulars  of  their  Re- 
ligious Creeds  and  Practices,  their  Social  Theories  and  Life,  Num- 
bers, Industries,  and  Present  Condition.  By  CHARLES  NORDHOFF. 
Illustrations.  8vo,  Cloth,  $4  00. 

NORDHOFF'S  CALIFORNIA.  California:  for  Health,  Pleasure, 
and  Residence.  A  Book  for  Travellers  and  Settlers.  Illustrated. 
8vo,  Cloth,  $2  50. 

NORDHOFF'S  NORTHERN  CALIFORNIA  AND  THE  SAND- 
WICH ISLANDS.  Northern  California,  Oregon,  and  the  Sandwich 
Islands.  By  CHARLES  NORDHOFF.  Illustrated,,  ^vo,  Cloth,  $2  50. 


6         Valuable  Works  for  Public  and  Private  Libraries. 

VAN-LENNEP'S  BIBLE  LANDS.  Bible  Lands:  their  Modern  Cus- 
toms and  Manners  Illustrative  of  Scripture.  By  the  Rev.  HENRY  J. 
VAN-LENNEP,  D.D.  With  upward  of  350  Wood  Engravings  and 
two  Colored  Maps.  838  pp.,  8vo,  Cloth,  $5  00;  Sheep,  $6  00; 
Half  Morocco  or  Half  Calf,  $8  00. 

SHAKSPEARE.  The  Dramatic  Works  of  William  Shakspeare.  With 
Corrections  and  Notes.  Engravings.  '  6  vols.,  12mo,  Cloth,  $9  00. 
2  vols.,  8vo,  Cloth,  $4  00;  Sheep,  §5  00.  In  one  vol.,  8vo,  Sheep, 
$400. 

STRICKLAND'S  (Miss)  QUEENS  OF  SCOTLAND.  Lives  of  the 
Queens  of  Scotland  and  English  Princesses  connected  with  the  Re- 
gal Succession  of  Great  Britain.  By  AGNES  STRICKLAND.  8  vols., 
12mo,  Cloth,  $12  00  ;  Half  Calf,  $26  00. 

BAKER'S  ISMAILIA.  Ismailia :  a  Narrative  of  the  Expedition  to 
Central  Africa  for  the  Suppression  of  the  Slave-trade,  organized  hy 
Ismail,  Khedive  of  Egypt.  By  Sir  SAMUEL  WHITE  BAKER,  PASHA, 
F.R.S.,  F.R.G.S.  With  Maps,  Portraits,  and  Illustrations.  8vo, 
Cloth,  $5  00 ;  Half  Calf,  $7  25. 

BOSWELL'S  JOHNSON.  The  Life  of  Samuel  Johnson,  LL.D.,  in- 
cluding a  Journal  of  a  Tour  to  the  Hebrides.  By  JAMES  BOSWELL, 
Esq.  Edited  by  JOHN  WILSON  CROKER,  LL.D.,  F.R.S.  With  A 

Portrait  of  Boswell.     2  vols.,  8vo,  Cloth,  $4  00  ;  Sheep,  $5  00 ;  Half 
Calf,  $8  50. 

SAMUEL  JOHNSON:  HIS  WORDS  AND  HIS  WAYS;  what  he 
Said,  what  he  Did,  and  what  Men  Thought  and  Spoke  Concerning 
him.  Edited  by  E.  T.  MASON.  12mo,  Cloth,  $L  50. 

JOHNSON'S  COMPLETE  WORKS.  The  Works  of  Samuel  John- 
son, LL.D.  With  an  Essay  on  his  Life  and  Genius,  by  ARTHUR 
MURPHY,  Esq.  2  vols.,  8vo,  Cloth,  $4  00 ;  Sheep,  $5  00 ;  Half  Calf, 
$8  50. 

SMILES'S  HISTORY  OF  THE  HUGUENOTS.  The  Huguenots: 
their  Settlements,  Churches,  and  Industries  in  England  and  Ireland. 
By  SAMUEL  SMILES.  With  an  Appendix  relating  to  the  Huguenots 
in  America.  Crown  8vo,  Cloth,  $2  00. 

SMILES'S  HUGUENOTS  AFTER  THE  REVOCATION.  The  Hu- 
guenots in  France  after  the  Revocation  of  the  Edict  of  Nantes  ;  with 
a  Visit  to  the  Country  of  the  Vaudois.  By  SAMUEL  SMILES.  Crown 
8vo,  Cloth,  $2  00. 

SMILES'S  LIFE  OF  THE  STEPHENSONS.  The  Life  of  George 
Stephenson,  and  of  his  Son,  Robert  Stephenson ;  comprising,  also, 
a  History  of  the  Invention  and  Introduction  of  the  Railway  Loco- 
motive. By  SAMUEL  SMILES.  With  Steel  Portraits  and  numerous 
Illustrations*.  8vo,  Cloth,  $3  00. 


Valuable  Works  for  Public  and  Private  Libraries.        7 

RAWLINSON'S  MANUAL  OF  ANCIENT  HISTORY.     A  Manual 

of  Ancient  History,  from  the  Earliest  Times  to  the  Fall  of  the 
Western  Empire.  Comprising  the  History  of  Chaldaea,  Assyria,  Me- 
dia, Babylonia,  Lydia,  Phoenicia,  Syria,  Judaea,  Egypt,  Carthage, 
Persia,  Greece,  Macedonia,  Parthia,  and  Rome.  By  GEORGE  RAW- 
LINSON,  M.A.,  Camden  Professor  of  Ancient  History  in  the  Univer- 
sity of  Oxford.  12mo,  Cloth,  $1  25. 

THE  VOYAGE  OF  THE  "CHALLENGER."  The  Atlantic:  an 
Account  of  the  General  Results  of  the  Voyage  during  1873,  and  the 
Early  Part  of  1876.  By  Sir  WYVILLE  THOMSON,  K.C.B.,  F.R.S. 
With  numerous  Illustrations,  Colored  Maps,  and  Charts,  from  Draw- 
ings by  J.  J.  Wyld,  engraved  by  J.  D.  Cooper,  and  Portrait  of  the 
Author,  engraved  by  C.  H.  Jeens.  2  vols.,  8vo,  Cloth,  $12  00. 

ALISON'S  HISTORY  OF  EUROPE.  FIRST  SERIES  :  From  the  Com- 
mencement of  the  French  Revolution,  in  1789,  to  the  Restoration 
of  the  Bourbons  in  1815.  [In  addition  to  the  Notes  on  Chapter 
LXXVI.,  which  correct  the  errors  of  the  original  work  concerning 
the  United  States,  a  copious  Analytical  Index  has  been  appended  to 
this  American  Edition.]  SECOND  SERIES  :  From  the  Fall  of  Napo- 
leon, in  1815,  to  the  Accession  of  Louis  Napoleon,  in  1852.  8  vols., 
8vo,  Cloth,  $16  00 ;  Sheep,  $20  00 ;  Half  Calf,  $34  00. 

WALLACE'S  GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION  OF  ANIMALS. 

The  Geographical  Distribution  of  Animals.  With  a  Study  of  the 
Relations  of  Living  and  Extinct  Faunas,  as  Elucidating  the  Past 
Changes  of  the  Earth's  Surface.  By  ALFRED  RUSSEL  WALLACE. 
With  Maps  and  Illustrations.  In  2  vols.,  8vo,  Cloth,  $10  00. 

WALLACE'S  MALAY  ARCHIPELAGO.  The  Malay  Archipelago : 
The  Land  of  the  Orang-Utan  and  the  Bird  of  Paradise.  A  Narra- 
tive of  Travel,  1854-1862.  With  Studies  of  Man  and  Nature.  By 
A.  R.WALLACE.  Maps  and  Illustrations.  Crown  8vo,  Cloth,  $2  50. 

BOURNE'S  LIFE  OF  LOCKE.  The  Life  of  John  Locke.  By  H. 
R.  Fox  BOURNE.  2  vols.,  8vo,  Cloth,  Uncut  Edges  and  Gilt  Tops, 

$5  00. 

BLUNTS'  BEDOUIN  TRIBES  OF  THE  EUPHRATES.    Bedouin 

Tribes  of  the  Euphrates.  By  LADY  ANNE  BLUNT.  Edited,  with  a 
Preface  and  some  Account  of  the  Arabs  and  their  Horses,  by  W.  S.  B. 
Map  and  Sketches  by  the  Author.  8vo,  Cloth,  $2  50. 

GRIFFIS'S  JAPAN.  The  Mikado's  Empire  :  Book  I.  History  of  Ja- 
pan, from  660  B.C.  to  1872  A.D.  Book  II.  Personal  Experiences, 
Observations,  and  Studies  in  Japan,  1870-1874.  By  WILLIAM  EL- 
LIOT GRIFFIS,  A.M.,  late  of  the  Imperial  University  of  Tokio,  Japan. 
Copiously  Illustrated.  8vo,  Cloth,  $4  00  ;  Half  Calf,  $6  25. 

BROUGHAM'S  AUTOBIOGRAPHY.  Life  and  Times  of  Henry, 
Lord  Brougham.  Written  by  Himself.  3  vols.,  12mo,  Cloth,  $6  00. 


8         Valuable  Works  for  Public  and  Private  Libraries. 

THOMPSON'S  PAPACY  AND  THE  CIVIL  POWER.  The  Pa- 
pacy and  the  Civil  Power.  By  the  Hon.  R.  W.  THOMPSON,  Secretary 
of  the  U.  S.  Navy.  Crown  8vo,  Cloth,  $3  00. 

THE  POETS  AND  POETRY  OF  SCOTLAND:  From  the  Earliest 
to  the  Present  Time.  Comprising  Characteristic  Selections  from 
the  Works  of  the  more  Noteworthy  Scottish  Poets,  with  Biographi- 
cal and  Critical  Notices.  By  JAMES  GRANT  WILSON.  With  Portraits 
on  Steel.  2  vols.,  8vo,  Cloth,  $10  00;  Sheep,  $12  00;  Half  Calf, 
$14  50  ;  Full  Morocco,  $18  00. 

THE  STUDENT'S  SERIES.     With  Maps  and  Illustrations.     12mo, 

Cloth. 

FRANCE. — GIBBON. — GREECE. — HUME. — ROME  (by  LIDDELL). — OLD 
TESTAMENT  HISTORY. — NEW  TESTAMENT  HISTORY. — STRICKLAND'S 
QUEENS  OF  ENGLAND  (Abridged).  —  ANCIENT  HISTORY  OF  THE 
EAST.  —  HALLAM'S  MIDDLE  AGES.  —  HALLAM'S  CONSTITUTIONAL 
HISTORY  OF  ENGLAND.— LYELL'S  ELEMENTS  OF  GEOLOGY.— MERI- 
VALE'S  GENERAL  HISTORY  OF  ROME. — Cox's  GENERAL  HISTORY 
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CAMERON'S  ACROSS  AFRICA.  Across  Africa.  By  VERNEY  Lov- 
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ist Royal  Geographical  Society,  etc.  With  a  Map  and  numerous  Il- 
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This  work  embraces  in  one  volume : 

I.  ON  A  FRESH  REVISION  OF  THE  ENGLISH  NEW  TES- 
TAMENT. By  J.  B.  LIGHTFOOT,  D.D.,  Canon  of  St.  Paul's, 
and  Hulsean  Professor  of  Divinity,  Cambridge.  Second  Edi- 
tion, Revised.  196  pp. 

II.  ON  THE  AUTHORIZED  VERSION  OF  THE  NEW  TES- 
TAMENT in  Connection  with  some  Recent  Proposals  for  its 
Revision.  By  R.  C.  TRENCH,  D.D.,  Archbishop  of  Dublin. 
194  pp. 

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LISH VERSION  OF  THE  NEW  TESTAMENT.  By  C.  J. 
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